Abu Dhabi hosts the last Grand Prix of the season and it will also be the final appearance at a race weekend for the size of tyre that Formula 1 has used since 2022.

As from next season, while maintaining the same 18 inch rim diameter, the tyres will be slightly narrower to suit the new generation of cars developed as part of the overhaul of the technical regulations.

On the Tuesday following the Grand Prix (9 December) the Yas Marina circuit will host a group test with the race drivers at the wheel of mule cars, adapted to suit the 2026 range of tyres.

The Compounds

Pirelli is sticking with the usual selection of compounds for the last race of the season in Abu Dhabi, namely the C3, C4 and C5. Historically, the Yas Marina track sees graining on the tyres, but as from last year this phenomenon seems to be relatively limited and the greater resistance of the current tyres could reduce it to such an extent that even the Soft, usually only used in qualifying, could be a tyre around which to put together a race strategy. At this track, degradation is thermal in nature and is generally seen on the rears due to the requirement for traction especially in the final sector of the track.

In Yas Marina last year, 19 drivers fitted the Medium for the start, the sole exception being Hamilton who went with the Hard. The one-stop was the quickest strategy, using the Hard for the second stint. Of the top ten finishers, only Alonso pitted twice. Just one driver ran the Soft with the sole aim of setting the fastest race lap. Graining and degradation were both limited and so, even those who pitted before half-distance, managed to run just two stints with no difficulties.

Yas Marina has hosted the final race of the Formula 1 season 13 times. It is a modern, cutting-edge facility, the track is 5.281 kilometres long, and features 16 corners. The drivers know it well as it has long been the venue for the post-season test session. Designed by Hermann Tilke, the track underwent an overhaul four years ago, which slightly reduced its length, while making it faster and more flowing, producing more overtaking opportunities, especially on the 1.2 kilometre-long straight between the slow turns 5 and 6. Another interesting section is to be found through turns 10, 11 and 12, where drivers have to brake hard, thus generating heavy lateral loads on the car. The track surface is made with aggregate imported from England and provides medium levels of abrasiveness and grip. To iron out some bumpy sections, the surface was redone this year from turn 1 to turn 4. As at all night races, there will be a significant drop in temperature between the first and last sessions. Track conditions can change according to when the cars are on track and they will also be affected by how much it rubbers in thanks to the support races, including Formula 2.

Keyword: Post-Season Test

On Tuesday 9 December, the teams will all take part in a group test organised by Pirelli which will run from 09h00 to 18h00. Each team will field one of its race drivers at the wheel of a mule car, specially adapted to simulate the characteristics of next year's cars, in order to test the 2026 range of tyres. Each team will be provided with one set of C2, three each of C3, C4 and C5, as well as a set of Intermediate tyres in case of rain. The 2026 C1 and Full Wet will not be available in Yas Marina.

On the same day, each team will also run a "young driver", defined as a driver who has not raced in more than two Grands Prix, at the wheel of their 2025 car. These drivers will be supplied with 2025 tyres - two sets each of the C3 and C5, four sets of the C4 and one set of Intermediates and Full Wets for use in case it rains.

For the test, the 2026 tyres will feature updated graphics on the sidewalls that will be used for the whole season, while also maintaining the usual colours to indicate the level of hardness of the tyre, although the C2 will not have brackets in Abu Dhabi, in order to distinguish it on track from the C3.

Statistics Corner

This will be the 17th consecutive year that the Yas Marina circuit has hosted the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The first edition, in 2009, was won by Sebastian Vettel. The most successful driver in the Emirates is Lewis Hamilton with five wins and the same number of pole positions to his name. This year, Max Verstappen could equal that record as he is on four. His team, Red Bull Racing, has the most wins (7) while Mercedes are just one behind. It was here in Abu Dhabi in 2021, that the German team secured its eighth Constructors' world title, on the same day that Max Verstappen secured the Drivers' crown for the first time.