With a new era of racing set to begin at Yas Marina Circuit in the FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX 2021, the future of the sport looks bright with talented young drivers currently in action in the Formula 2 and Formula 4 UAE championships set to race this weekend in Abu Dhabi.
In the 2021 Formula 2 championship, Australian ace Oscar Piastri leads the grid going into the final race in Abu Dhabi following a remarkable debut season with Prema Powerteam. The 20-year-old is set to continue his meteoric rise through the sport as he participates in testing with Alpine for the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi in what could be a career defining weekend for the superstar-in-waiting.
Currently in second place in the Formula 2 standings is Piastri’s Prema Powerteam stablemate, Robert Schwartzman, who will head to Yas Marina Circuit after a promising season for the team. As a member of the Ferrari Drivers’ Academy, the Russian driver will join the Formula 1 side for post-season testing, as well as support Haas for an additional testing session in a memorable week in the UAE for the young star.
One of the biggest storylines of the F1 driver line-up changes for 2022 will see the sport’s first Chinese driver take to the grid, as Guanyu Zhou will head to Alfa Romeo alongside veteran Valtteri Bottas for next season as the 22-year-old officially makes his debut in F1 following his time as a member of the Alpine Academy and test driver for the side.
In Formula 4 UAE, the opening exhibition race will kick off the new season this weekend, with 10 cars due to line-up on the newly reconfigured Yas Marina Circuit track. Spanish F4 winner, Dilano van’t Hoff will take to the course alongside teammate Rik Koen as the MP Motorsport duo begin the season in Abu Dhabi with aspirations to continue their rise through the ranks to challenge for F1 seats in the years to come.
Emirati starlet, Hamda Al Qubaisi will also be participating in the opening race of the new F4 UAE season, as the 19-year-old continues to rise through the ranks with Prema Powerteam following her historic podium-clinching performance in Italy earlier in 2021.
In what will be a monumental weekend in the history of the sport with a once-in-a-generation showdown between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in the season finale, fans can look forward to a champion being crowned and a glimpse into the future of the sport this weekend at Yas Marina Circuit.
For more information on how to get an up-close look at the future stars of the Formula One, please visit www.yasmarinacircuit.com.
