F1 25 Yas Marina Circuit Setup & Track Guide
Dominating around a tricky circuit like Abu Dhabi in F1 25 requires a good car setup, optimsed for high-speed straights and responsiveness. The night race at Yas Marina has become known as the season finale for Formula 1, and is the final track you’ll visit during a season in F1 25.
The circuit offers a mix of high-speed straights, technical corners, and tricky traction zones. Below, I’ll break down each sector of the Yas Marina circuit, provide tips for each corner sequence, and recommend the best Abu Dhabi car setup to maximize your lap time.
Yas Marina Circuit Overview
Thanks to the combination of slow speed chicanes, medium speed sweeping corners and long, fast straights, Abu Dhabi is a tricky circuit to master in F1 25. Maintaining traction out of slow corners, braking stability, and finding top speed on the straights without sacrificing downforce in the technical sections are all key areas to master.
Sector 1 – Turns 1–5: Technical Opening
- Turn 1: A medium-speed left-hander. Brake late but smoothly; clip the inside kerb without cutting it too much. Stay wide on exit to set up Turn 2.
- Turns 2–3: High-speed right-left. Keep the throttle planted; use all the track. A well-balanced car here builds momentum.
- Turn 5: Heavy braking zone. Brake just after the 100m board, down to second gear. Rotate the car early, but be careful on throttle to avoid rear slip.
Key tip: Prioritize a clean exit here to maximize speed into the first DRS straight.
Sector 2 – Turns 6–9: Long Straights & Heavy Braking
- Turn 6–7 chicane: Brake hard into the chicane; don’t over-attack the kerbs or you’ll destabilize the car. Short-shift to third gear on exit to manage wheelspin.
- Back straight (DRS): One of the best overtaking spots. Ensure minimal drag in your setup to stay competitive here.
- Turn 9 hairpin: Another huge braking point. Brake in a straight line, avoid locking up, and hug the inside.
Key tip: This sector is all about top-end speed and braking stability.
Sector 3 – Turns 10–16: Twisty, Traction-Limited Finale
- Turns 10–11–12: A sequence of medium-speed corners where a planted rear is key. Smooth inputs will help carry momentum.
- Turns 13–14: Slow chicane. Hug the kerbs tightly but avoid cutting. Stay patient on throttle.
- Turns 15–16: Final sweeping corners onto the pit straight. Use all the exit kerb and get on the power early.
Key tip: Rear tyre wear can spike here late in the race, so manage traction carefully.
F1 25 Yas Marina Car Setup Tips
To be fast at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in F1 25, your car setup must balance straight-line speed and cornering stability.
Below are top tips on how to setup your car for Abu Dhabi in F1 25.
| Setup Area | Recommended Settings |
|---|---|
| Aerodynamics | Prioritize top speed but retain some front-end bite and rear stability for faster corners. |
| Transmission | Lower off throttle differential helps rotation into corners, and higher on throttle differential improves drive out of faster corners. |
| Suspension | A stiff front suspension and soft rear will allow for great responsiveness. Opt for a low ride height due to the flat and smooth track surface. |
| Brakes | A slightly more forward brake bias will help slow the car into the heavier braking zones such as turn 5 and 6. |
| Tyres | Rear tyre pressures can spike late in the race, so focus on keeping temperatures down. |
Abu Dhabi race strategy
- Hard to medium or medium to hard is the preferred race strategy for Abu Dhabi thanks to the moderate to high tyre wear.
- Watch for safety cars, as late safety periods are common here. A hard to medium race strategy can be good to capitalise on a late race safety car.
- Overtaking is easiest into Turns 6 and 9, so plan your ERS deployment accordingly. There is a double DRS zone in this section so overtaking into turn 6 may see you immediately overtaken into turn 9. Overtaking into turn 9 is often the best option.
Here are some key tips for a fast Abu Dhabi F1 25 lap.
- Nail the exits: Slow corners like Turn 5 and Turn 7 set you up for the long straights. Sacrifice entry speed if needed to get the best exit.
- Brake efficiently: Focus on smooth, hard braking without lockups; trail-braking slightly into medium-speed corners can help rotate the car.
- Manage tyre temps: The Yas Marina Circuit can overheat your rear tyres easily thanks to the high traction zones out of slow corners like turn 7. Avoid unnecessary wheelspin, especially during longer race runs.
