Formula 1® isn’t coming alone to Yas Marina Circuit this weekend with Formula 2® and an F4UAE Trophy Round adding to the on-track action.
These series represent different steps on the motorsport ladder with the potential F1® drivers of tomorrow battling it out for supremacy.
So which names should you expect to see fighting for victory? Here’s our quick helpful guide:
F4UAE
For most, Formula 4 is the first single-seater championship after karting and the UAE has held a championship each year since 2016.
The new season sees 10 drivers competing including three from the UAE itself, Manaf Hijjawi and the Al Qubaisi sisters Amna and Hamda.
In total, four female drivers will line up on the F4UAE Trophy Round grid, including Saudi Arabia’s Reema Juffali, who made her name in the TRD 86 Cup UAE, part of the Yas Racing Series, last last year and followed up by finishing 13th in the 2019 British F4 championship.
Alex Connor is another to head for warmer weather after competing in British F4 and he’s certainly one to watch after finishing ninth overall including a podium in the final race
Perhaps the driver to beat is Dutch starlet Tijmen van der Helm, who scored eight podiums in his first year of F4 in Spain, finishing fourth overall by season’s end.
Formula 2®
The final step before F1®, F2® sees some of the most exciting racing anywhere in motorsport and the star power to match.
2019 champion Nyck de Vries already began the next phase of his career with Mercedes in Formula E this past weekend, but the Dutchman will be eager to end the year on a high at Yas Marina Circuit.
Of all the F2® drivers, Nicholas Latifi appears the closest to F1®, with a 2020 seat at Williams appearing highly likely for the Canadian who will look to consolidate second in this year’s standings.
Luca Ghiotto is a veteran of the series and sits just 10 points behind Latifi entering the final round. The Italian also has momentum on his side with a victory in Sochi and two previous podiums at Yas Marina Circuit.
Perhaps the star name this season though has been Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time F1® champion Michael. His first season has been mixed in terms of results but the 20-year-old already has one victory to his name and will look to end on a high in Abu Dhabi.
Tickets are available online at www.yasmarinacircuit.com, through the Yas Marina Circuit Call Centre (800 927). The all-new edition of the YasHUB app is available to download, allowing visitors to plan every element of their race weekend and stay up-to-date with the latest race news and information.