Yes, it may have been designed by Hermann Tilke who may not have set F1 alight with his circuit designs such as Valencia or Sepang, but I think this one is more interesting. Check out the two videos below of  laps by Bruno Senna around the Yas Marina Circuit, and read the thoughts of me and David Coulthard.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikvjwBEYk50]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVtiLqjLdCs]

My thoughts

I like very much off camber corners, and also the track gradient which as you can see differs quite a lot in different sections of the circuit.

What about that pit lane exit also! Fascinating to watch but you better hope you don’t break down inside it, as in that tunnel you have passed the speed limit zone so we will have cars going through there quite quickly. Also on the subject of the pit lane, it may take quite a while to exit. If that is the case I wouldn’t imagine there will be anyone on a light fuel strategy.

It also seems like it will be a good circuit for KERS, with the blind, slow corners exiting onto long straights where that extra horse power will pay great dividends. Speaking of the slow corners and long straights this circuit should pose plenty of opportunities for overtaking.

It should also be a bit of a visual spectacle as it is set to be a twilight race which will seamlessly blend from day to night. David Coulthard who has driven the circuit says that there is plenty of overhead lighting so it shouldn’t be a problem for the drivers. Coulthard’s full analysis is below.

David Coulthard’s view

“Having had the opportunity to drive the circuit, what struck me is that it’s a two-stage track; the first half of the lap until corner nine is typical of the new type of track. There’s the fast section at the beginning from Turn One to the Turn Four tight hairpin with the grandstand literally overhead, giving great viewing for the spectators. The 1.2 kilometre back straight should give an opportunity for some slipstreaming and overtaking and then the back section of the circuit has a real street circuit feel to it, where you come along the section that takes you to the hotel and then passes underneath it, via a series of 90 degree right-handers and left-handers before opening out to the end of the lap and a medium speed corner on to the start-finish straight. The pit lane entry is very challenging, as is the exit, which is actually in a tunnel under the circuit and is going to make it particularly challenging for the drivers coming in and out of pit stops. There are great facilities and air-conditioned garages which will make working conditions in the heat a little bit easier and also having an evening race will obviously take some of the heat out of what
can be a very hot venue. I think the twilight aspect of the race will be more of a visual treat for the spectators and the TV audience, but I think for the drivers it will be absolutely fine, as there is enough overhead lighting to make it blend seamlessly from day into night, no problem.”