Formula One (F1) racing involves some of the most advanced, expensive and dangerous motorsports in the world. Races take place on circuits around the globe between drivers and teams of various nationalities. The FIA governs F1 and establishes strict technical and sporting regulations that dictate car specifications and race procedures. The United Arab Emirates has hosted the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix since 2009 on the Yas Marina Circuit, a 5.55km track designed to accommodate spectators on land and water. Safety improvements have been made over time but F1 still pushes technological boundaries.

1. Formula One in the United Arab Emirates
Formula One (F1) racing is widely accepted as one of the most expensive, competitive,
dangerous, and technology advanced motorsports in the world (Morganelli 2007 & Castle 2003).
The present global F1 competition involves races taking place on specially designed circuits or
tracks in many different countries, with drivers and race teams of different nationalities, racing
cars with engines designed and manufactured worldwide, for the glory and money in winning a
World Championship (Morganelli 2007).
The term “Formula” refers to the sets of strict specifications in race car engineering
designs in which the competitors have to comply; and “One” means that the cars and their racers
are the most powerful and the best in formula racing. The organizing body of the F1 is the
Federation Internationale De L’automobile or FIA which was formed in 1947, 3 years before the
official birth of the modern F1 racing (Morganell 2007). The FIA makes the rule book which
consists of the technical regulations and the sporting regulations. The technical regulations
consist of the specifications of the car’s design which includes the engine, transmission, and
suspension. The sporting regulations, on the other hand, cover all aspects of the race including
the “point system” which is the basis of determining the winners of the race. The first F1 World
Championship was held on May 13, 1950 in the Silverstone circuit in Britain. The first F1
championship was awarded to the Italian race driver Giuseppe Farina (Morganell 2007).
The Formula One is a showcase of the best, fastest, and most reliable race car. F1 racing
cars are limited to light weight, single seat and open-wheeled cars, that is, the wheels are outside
the car’s body. Since the 1950s, the companies and independent individuals accepted the
challenge to design and build the fastest and most powerful racing car (Castle 2003). There are
two battles happening during an F1 competition, the first is the battle among the fastest and most
skilled race car drivers. The second battle involves the battle between the sets of rules and
regulations – the formula, and the car designers and engineers who strive to outsmart the
established formula (Castle 2003). The early years of the Formula One cars were dominated by
front engined cars from Italian teams such as Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, and Maserati (Morganelli
2007). John Cooper then introduced a more reliable new car design wherein the engine was
placed at the back of the driver providing the race car with greater stability (Castle 2003). Since
then all the F1 racing cars are mid-engined. Over the course of the F1 Worldwide championship

2. there had been tremendous amount of changes in the design and technology used in making F1
cars. These changes include the discovery of the ground-effect, the introduction of wings and
skirts, the use of the light but strong carbon fiber material, turbo-charged engines, etc. (Castle
2003). In some way, the race governing body FIA, was threatened by some of the changes which
led to the frequent revisions of the rules in order to limit and control the capabilities of the racing
cars.
Because of the need to outsmart the governing rules in order to win races, technical
innovation became and had always been a part of Formula One. Millions of dollars are spent in
research and development in order to improve the performance of the racing cars by fraction of a
second. Engineers need to continuously experiment with new materials, designs, and set ups of
the car in order to adapt to new circuits and changing race formulas (Castle 2003). The high
costs of researches, running an F1 team, and maintaining the racing cars are funded by sponsors.
Successful drivers are financially supported by corporations who make money by placing their
company logos in the F1 cars – an effective advertising which promotes the sponsor’s products
and services to the F1 spectators.
Safety has not always been among the primary concern of F1 racing; since F1 began
there had already been records of tragedies - accidents and deaths of both drivers and spectators.
Over the years, much has been done to improve the safety of everyone (Castle 2003). The
guidelines were updated in order to improve the safety of the drivers, crew, and spectators.
However there were also some instances where the rules were changed because of
“technological” issues (Castle 2003). The most recent changes ware implemented this year. The
revisions in the technical regulations include the following: the introduction of a more powerful
unit consisting of 1.6L V6 turbo machine and 2 Energy Recovery Systems (ERS); reduction of
the fuel limit to 100 kg which is about 1/3 less of the previous limit; addition of an eight speed
gear to the initially 7-speed gearbox; front wings were narrowed from 1800mm to 1650mm; the
beam wing was abolished and the wing flap was made shallower; the chassis height was reduced
from 625mm to 525mm and the nose height was reduced from 550mm to 185mm; and the
minimum weight was increased from 642 kg in 2013 to 690 kg (“2014 Season Changes,” 2014).

3. Formula One seasons are composed of a series of races, or grand prix (“prix” is the
French word for prize) located on circuits all over the world. FIA announced recently that there
will be a total of 21 races for the 2015 Formula One (“21-race season proposed for 2015,” 2014).
The 21-grand prix is the 66th season of Formula One and will kick off on March 15 in Australia,
and will end on November 29 in Abu Dhabi. Among the expected constructors that will
participate in the 2015 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull-Renault, Lotus-
Mercedes, Caterham-Renault, Force India-Mercedes, McLaren-Honda, Sauber-Ferrari, Toro
Rosso-Renault, and Williams-Mercedes (“2015 FIA F1 World Championship - Entry List,”
2014).
The recent 2014 World Championship also finished in Abu Dhabi last November 21-23,
2014. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is relatively new to the F1 racing schedule. It was only in 2009
when F1 was formally inaugurated in the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab
Emirates. The Yes Marina race circuit was designed by the renowned circuit architect Hermann
Tilke (“2014 Formula 1 Etihad…” 2014). The circuit is positioned on the edge of the Marina, so
the other side of the circuit can be watched by spectators on boats in the harbor and over 50,000
spectators can watch the cars race against each other. The circuit is 5.55 kilometers long, with a
total of 21 turns. It is one of the few circuits to run in anti-clock wise direction. The racers had to
complete 55 laps. The circuit also features the longest straight on the F1 calendar and is the only
track with an underground pit lane. (Carter 2009) It was also the first circuit to host the first F1
day-night racing which started at 17:00 during its inauguration in 2009. The circuit was
illuminated with floodlights throughout the race. At present, there had already been 6 F1 grand
prix races held in UAE, in which Sebastian Vettel won three times, Lewis Hamilton bagged the
top spot twice, and Kimi Räikkönen claimed one race. Although Formula One involves racing of
the fastest cars, the sports is more comparable to game of chess than just an old-fashion horse
race. It not only requires driver skills but tremendous amounts of strategies from the whole
racing team (Castle 2003).

4. References:
2014 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabu Grand Prix. (n.d.). Retrieved December 6, 2014,
from http://www.formula1.com/races/in_detail/ abu_dhabi_932/ circuit_history.html
2014 season changes. (2014.). Retrieved December 6, 2014, from
http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/rules_and_regulations/sporting_regulations/12877/
2015 FIA F1 World Championship - Entry List* | Federation Internationale de l'Automobile.
(2014, November 5). Retrieved December 6, 2014, from http://www.fia.com/2015-fia-f1-world-championship-
entry- list
21-race F1 season proposed for 2015. (2014, December 3). Retrieved December 6, 2014, from
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/30319421
Morganelli, A. (2007). Formula One. New York: Crabtree Pub.
Carter, J. (2009, November 1). Yas Marina Circuit. Retrieved December 6, 2014, from
http://en.espnf1.com/unitedarabemirates/motorsport/circuit/1325.html
Castle, J. (Producer & Director). (2003). Discovery Channel: The Secret Life of Formula One
[Documentary]. Europe: Lace Studio.