Five things to know ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

We've finally reached 2023's curtain-closing 22nd race, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit.

After such a long season, there's an end-of-school feeling in the air, but one last test remains.

And in keeping with that school metaphor, let us teach you five things about the Abu Dhabi GP before we break up for the end of term.

We might only head to the circuit once a season, but Yas Marina is a hive of motorsport activity all year.

As well as F1's supporting act, Formula 2, the track also hosts the championships for Asian Le Mans, Formula Regional Middle East, Formula 4 UAE, Ferrari Challenge, and many more.

Alternative layouts around Yas Island add more variety for the series that visit the track more than once, with one version including a 'corkscrew' section, albeit not as dramatic as Laguna Seca's iconic twist.

Lia Block, our newest Academy member, will race here in 2024, too, with F1 Academy set to join the F1 support bill for next year's Abu Dhabi GP.

There was once a time when a grand prix evening meant camping in a muddy field with a small caravan or tent huddled around a fire until the following morning's session.

Formula 1 has come a long way, though, with more and more races turning into mini music festivals accompanying the pinnacle of motorsport.

This year's Abu Dhabi GP is a prime example, with A-list acts performing over the weekend.

As well as enjoying the race, fans can see the likes of Tiësto, Shania Twain, and Foo Fighters perform as we end the season in style.

Walking around Yas Island or seeing the sensational helicopter shots of the area from above show how much it's a race fan's holidaying paradise.

The circuit, hotels, water park, SeaWorld centre, golf course, shopping centre, arena, and a certain scarlet red F1 team's theme park are all modern and must-visit destinations.

If you came just 16 years ago, you'd see none of these now-established spots as the island was an empty space.

Today, though, there are 25 square kilometres of fun in the sun for anyone who visits, with Yas Island being Abu Dhabi's prime destination for tourist entertainment.

With the race becoming the grand prix for season finales, there have been plenty of memorable moments in Abu Dhabi's history.

Perhaps one of the quirkiest examples was the 2014 race, which became the highest-scoring Grand Prix ever.

The FIA awarded double points for all drivers who reached the top 10 to try and keep any championship fight going until the very end of the season.

That worked out well for us at Williams Racing, with Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas crossing the line in P2 and P3, meaning we scored 66 points — the highest of any team at a single race in F1's long history!

Alex and Logan aren't the only drivers who we'll have exiting the Yas Marina garage in Williams Racing cars over the coming days.

Two of our F3 Academy aces, Zak O'Sullivan and Franco Colapinto, will take the reigns for their first taste of FW45 action.

Zak will step in for Alex in Friday's FP1, going up against other F1 stars, plus a number of F2, IndyCar, and Formula E drivers also joining Abu Dhabi's first practice.

He'll return after the Grand Prix alongside Franco for the post-season Young Driver Test as we continue developing our talented stable of racers looking to reach the top.