• Yas Marina slowly fills with yachts ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Yas Marina slowly fills with yachts ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Teams begin to set up their garages ahead of Abu Dhabi GP. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Teams begin to set up their garages ahead of Abu Dhabi GP. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A cleaner sweeps the stands where tens of thousands of viewers are expected this week. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A cleaner sweeps the stands where tens of thousands of viewers are expected this week. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Cleaners sweep the stands where 60,000 viewers will watch the final race of the season. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Cleaners sweep the stands where 60,000 viewers will watch the final race of the season. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A worker sets up a melted F1 car at the main grandstand area, where activities will be held for spectators attending the race. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A worker sets up a melted F1 car at the main grandstand area, where activities will be held for spectators attending the race. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Safety cars are parked and ready for this weekend's race. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Safety cars are parked and ready for this weekend's race. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Preparations for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are under way at Yas Marina Circuit. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Preparations for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are under way at Yas Marina Circuit. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A painter lays down a fresh coat of Yas Blue on the circuit. Courtesy Yas Marina Circuit
    A painter lays down a fresh coat of Yas Blue on the circuit. Courtesy Yas Marina Circuit
  • Stairs leading up to the stands are hosed down ahead of the 60,000 visitors expected this weekend. Courtesy Yas Marina Circuit
    Stairs leading up to the stands are hosed down ahead of the 60,000 visitors expected this weekend. Courtesy Yas Marina Circuit
  • A fresh coat of Yas Blue is laid down across the circuit. Courtesy Yas Marina Circuit
    A fresh coat of Yas Blue is laid down across the circuit. Courtesy Yas Marina Circuit
  • More than two acres of seasonal flowers are planted across Yas Marina Circuit. Courtesy Yas Marina Circuit
    More than two acres of seasonal flowers are planted across Yas Marina Circuit. Courtesy Yas Marina Circuit
  • The canopies are hosed down with high-pressure water hoses. Courtesy Yas Marina Circuit
    The canopies are hosed down with high-pressure water hoses. Courtesy Yas Marina Circuit

UAE

Three tonnes of paint and hundreds of plants: Abu Dhabi prepares for Formula 1

Preparations for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are under way at Yas Marina Circuit

Anna Zacharias

November 19, 2018

  • English
  • Arabic

Over the next few days, Yas Marina Circuit will be overrun with cleaners, painters and engineers, putting the finishing touches on the grounds ahead of the tens of thousands of spectators, celebrities, teams and drivers expected for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Festivities at Yas Marina Circuit begin on Thursday, ahead of the last race of the season, begin on Thursday, with a pit lane walk and Post Malone concert at the du Arena. Free practice begins on Friday, kicking off race weekend.

Meanwhile, painters are giving a fresh coat, or four to be precise to the 26 kilometres of track and will apply more than 500kg of paint to the circuit’s kerbs every day until Thursday.

By the time painters finish, they will use between two and three tonnes of paint — including 4,500 litres of Yas Blue, the track’s signature colour.

Dust and sand have been swept from the grandstands and the circuit's 228 canopies are being given high-pressure blast so they are gleaming for the swooping aerial shots that will follow the high-speed cars as they whizz around the track.

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As a finishing touch, two and a half acres of seasonal flowers were planted.

“In the lead up to the tenth edition of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix our teams have been very busy, a huge amount of work goes into preparing for the race weekend to make sure the Circuit looks perfect,” said Al Tareq Al Ameri, the chief executive of Yas Marina Circuit. “We want to ensure that the fans in the grandstand and those watching on TV around the world enjoy the best F1 experience.”

With the scene set, Yas Circuit will be ready for the fans.

UAEAbu Dhabi