The inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was a spectacular event and gave Formula One very symbolic finish to the year with the sun setting on 2009. F1 is about to enter a new era, both on the track and off it, and there couldn’t have been a better way to close the current chapter of the sport’s history by looking into its future.

The Yas Marina circuit is a brilliant venue, and whilst the race itself was not a classic, there is no doubting the infrastructure and facilities in Abu Dhabi are incredible. Like previous tracks conceived by Herman Tilke, Yas Marina has redefined the modern F1 circuit.

The racetrack was originally designed to be part permanent and part street circuit, and was scheduled to open the 2009 season. However, at the start of last year it became evident this would not be possible and the race organisers hired a new management team to bring their project back into line. The circuit was changed into a fully permanent one, the spectator capacity was reduced, and the race date was pushed back from February to November.

The circuit configuration is rather special and is one of Herman Tilke’s better designs. The first sector of the lap is brilliant and the cars look fantastic through the fast sweepers after the first corner. The long straights and tight braking zones make overtaking a genuine possibility and give the cars ample chance to reach top speed.

Some of the slower turns are also well designed. The three right hand bends immediately before the hotel are rather challenging, as are the off camber corners that follow the turn 12 chicane. Whilst the circuit could have been exciting without the slow sections of track, the tighter parts don’t totally ruin the lap, even though they cause the field to spread out a bit during the race.

Whilst the circuit allows for close racing and keeps the drivers occupied, the track is most impressive due to its surrounding facilities. The work that has been put into the construction of Yas Marina is nothing short of amazing.

A five star hotel straddles the track and another six have been built nearby. The circuit boasts 70 pit garages and a separate pitlane for the support categories. Every grandstand seat is covered and the fans are close to the action thanks to the widespread use of Tecpro barriers. Even the track surface is special since the material had to be shipped to Abu Dhabi all the way from England.

The Yas Marina circuit also includes a number of novelties and special features that add flavour to the Grand Prix.

The regular advertising banners that you would see across most tracks have been replaced with LCD screens. The pitlane exit is a tunnel, there is an escape road under a grandstand, and the layout fully incorporates the Yas Hotel and Yacht Club.

Then of course there is the remarkable transition from day into night. It is one of the most astonishing sights in Formula One and is perhaps a little surprising that it wasn’t attempted sooner.

Abu Dhabi is the latest step in the evolution of F1 circuits and its facilities provide a glimpse into the sport’s future. Ten years ago the championship visited the brand new Sepang racetrack which changed the shape of F1 circuit design. Sepang introduced scientifically planned corners, massive run-off areas, and a layout which could be viewed almost entirely from the main grandstand. Those new concepts were developed further in Bahrain and China, and again in Istanbul where the circuit’s landscape also came into focus. Since then F1 has been to the first new age street track in Valencia, another one at night in Singapore, and now there is the spectacle of Abu Dhabi.

It will be fascinating to see what is coming next.

In 2010 there will be the first ever South Korean Grand Prix. The circuit 400 km south of Seoul is also being designed by Herman Tilke and will have many similar features to those in Abu Dhabi.

The track will be part temporary, part permanent, and it will also race through a new city and marina. The first sector will be fast like Yas Marina with a number of long straights and sweeping turns, and the lap will finish with a twisty section between buildings around the water’s edge.

It’s hard to see what they could do in Korea to improve upon Abu Dhabi since they’re not doing anything different.

However, South Korea is no stranger to big events and the country knows how to put on a good show. When Seoul hosted the 1988 Olympic Games the city presented one of the most spectacular opening ceremonies ever seen and raised the bar for nations to follow.

The Grand Prix organisers will need to come up with something similarly special to give the event its own identity.

Following on from South Korea the Formula One World Championship plans to reach India in 2011. Although the project is stalling due to political reasons and was shot down by the Indian parliament in August, there is still a level of optimism that the race will go ahead on a new circuit in Delhi.

If the Grand Prix does come to fruition it will be a huge event for Formula One.

Although the Indian Grand Prix track is not likely to have the features of Abu Dhabi (or South Korea) there is one thing that it could have that would mark the circuit as a special venue on the F1 calendar.

People.

One sixth of the world’s population can be found in India and the racetrack is being built in the second largest metropolis in the country. If you sold tickets very cheaply at the Indian Grand Prix and built the circuit especially for trackside spectators, you could conceivably get a million people to the race. Imagine if Formula One became the first sport in history to attract one million live spectators!

The Indian Grand Prix could be Bernie Ecclestone’s chance to prove to his critics that new F1 venues can attract local interest.

Whilst highly unlikely, it is not impossible that Herman Tilke will design a circuit that caters particularly for trackside spectators. There is some indication of that mindset in Abu Dhabi.

The pit straight at Yas Marina is shorter than usual and that is intentional. The idea is to confine all of the excitement of the start/finish area into a small space rather than smearing it over a long distance. The tall grandstands add to the effect and have been built so that anyone on the main straight (where the majority of spectators sit) can see the last corner, first corner, and everything in between.

The circuit also features a tight hairpin with a grandstand pressed closely around the outside. The sole purpose of this corner is to create a stadium style viewing experience for the fans. The cars would not have to be slowed by a chicane beforehand if there was more run off space available.

If Tilke expanded on those ideas and created a whole circuit with other features tailored for trackside spectators, he could engineer one of the most spectacular Grands Prix of all time. There is no circuit in F1 today where fans line every inch of the track so that could be the next feature Tilke looks to work into his designs.

He will have to come up with something like that to improve on Abu Dhabi.