2007–2013: Origins and Early Grands Prix in V8 era Formula 1 first came to Abu Dhabi in 2007 in the form of the first Formula One Festival. Announced in January 2007, the event which took place on 3 February 2007 was free, and the largest gathering of current Formula One cars and drivers outside of a Grand Prix. At the festival it was announced that Abu Dhabi had won the rights to host a Grand Prix from 2009 until 2016. Later that year,
Etihad Airways negotiated a three-year deal for them to become sponsors of the Grand Prix. For the season, the
2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was added to the schedule. It was provisionally announced as being held on 15 November 2009, as the 19th and final Grand Prix of the season. Both the Canadian Grand Prix and French Grand Prix were later removed from the provisional schedule, and as a result the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was moved to 1 November 2009 where it would become the last of 17 meetings. In August 2009, it was announced that the start time would be 17:00 local time (13:00 UTC), and that the race would be floodlit. The race was won by
Sebastian Vettel for
Red Bull Racing. For the
2010 Formula One season, the
2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was held on the Yas Marina Circuit, from 12 until 14 November 2010. The Drivers' Championship was decided in Abu Dhabi for the first time. With championship leader
Fernando Alonso losing out and
Sebastian Vettel completing his second consecutive win on this track, the young German driver subsequently sealed the world championship. The
2011 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was the 18th and penultimate race of the
2011 FIA Formula One World Championship, and took place on 11 until 13 November. The race was won by
Lewis Hamilton in a
McLaren-
Mercedes. Second was
Fernando Alonso in a
Ferrari, with
Jenson Button coming third in a
McLaren-
Mercedes.
Sebastian Vettel, in a
Red Bull-
Renault, had been on pole position, but retired after a puncture on the first lap whilst going round the second corner. 's Kimi Räikkönen won the 2012 race; his first victory since his return to the sport earlier in the season In
2012, championship leader
Sebastian Vettel finished the race in 3rd position after starting from the pitlane, due to his disqualification from qualifying due to not having enough fuel to return to
parc fermé. His main championship rival
Fernando Alonso finished 2nd behind the Finnish driver
Kimi Räikkönen, who won for the first time after his return to Formula One earlier in 2012. The
2013 edition was won by
Sebastian Vettel and
Red Bull Racing for the third time, leading every lap. Having clinched their fourth consecutive Drivers' and Constructors' Championships respectively at the
Indian Grand Prix, the team celebrated their achievements in
Abu Dhabi with
David Coulthard performing some doughnuts on the helipad of the
Burj Al Arab luxury hotel in Dubai, above ground level.
2014–2021: V6 Hybrid era The
2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix took place on 23 November and was the concluding race of the
2014 FIA Formula One World Championship. Double points were awarded for the race, which was won by
Lewis Hamilton, securing his second Drivers' Championship. The
2015 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was held on 29 November 2015. The race was won by
Nico Rosberg making it three wins in a row with
Lewis Hamilton and
Kimi Räikkönen completing the podium. The
2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was held on 27 November 2016. The race was won by
Lewis Hamilton making it four wins in a row with
Nico Rosberg and
Sebastian Vettel completing the podium and Rosberg securing his one and only Drivers' Championship. The
2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was held on 26 November 2017. The race was won by
Valtteri Bottas, with
Lewis Hamilton in second and
Sebastian Vettel completing the podium. The
2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was held on 25 November 2018. The race was won by
Lewis Hamilton, with
Sebastian Vettel in second and
Max Verstappen completing the podium. The
2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was held on 1 December 2019. The race was won by six-time champion
Lewis Hamilton, with
Max Verstappen in second and
Charles Leclerc in third. In this edition, Hamilton successfully achieved a "Grand Slam," by qualifying on pole, led every single lap and winning the race. The
2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was scheduled for 29 November but the race was moved to 13 December to allow the
Bahrain Grand Prix to run after their race was postponed due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. The race was won by
Max Verstappen, with
Valtteri Bottas and
Lewis Hamilton finishing second and third respectively. On 9 December 2021, an extended 10-year agreement was signed between Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management and the
Formula One Group, where Abu Dhabi retains the contractual right to hold final race of the F1 season until 2030. The
race was held on 12 December 2021.
Max Verstappen controversially won his first World Drivers' Championship when he crossed the finishing line first, followed by
Lewis Hamilton in second, and
Carlos Sainz Jr. in third. Mercedes won their 8th consecutive Constructors' Championship, followed closely by Red Bull Racing in second. Verstappen's race and championship win was mired in controversy as the race director
Michael Masi used the incorrect procedure for withdrawing the safety car prior to resuming racing on the final lap of the race. The FIA launched an inquiry into the events of the race, concluding that whilst the safety car did not stay out for the additional lap, "as required by Article 48.12", the result was legitimised because, as Mercedes AMG did not appeal, there was "no available mechanism to change the classification". In addition, Masi was replaced by
Niels Wittich and
Eduardo Freitas for 2022 onward.
2022–present: Ground effect era The
2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was held on 20 November 2022. The race was won by
Max Verstappen with
Charles Leclerc in second, and
Sergio Pérez in third. The
2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was held on 26 November 2023 and was won by Verstappen ahead of Leclerc and
George Russell. By this point, Verstappen had secured the Drivers' Championship at the
Qatar Grand Prix sprint event, and the Constructors' Championship in
Japan. Winning the Grand Prix, Verstappen became the first driver to lead one thousand laps in a single season, and the only driver to have completed every racing lap in the 2023 season. The
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was won by
Lando Norris for the first time, ahead of
Ferrari drivers
Carlos Sainz Jr. then Charles Leclerc completing the podium.
McLaren won the
Constructors title for the first time since
1998, beating Ferrari to the title. At the
2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix,
Lando Norris's third-place finish was enough to win him the 2025 Drivers' Championship by two points from race winner
Max Verstappen.
Oscar Piastri finished the race in second, and the championship in third. ==Circuit==