The 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix opened with the kind of energy that reminds you why this weekend sits at the intersection of sport, culture, and spectacle. With more of Yas Marina Circuit accessible than ever before, fans were part of the whole experience, exploring spaces that usually become near-impossible to access once the engines fire up. Day One set a new benchmark for what race week in Abu Dhabi can feel like.
Fans Took Over the Pit Lane, Twice!
Two pit lane walks gave guests the rare chance to stand exactly where the drivers stand, watching mechanics fine-tune the cars in their garages and seeing the circuit from the perspective that usually belongs only to the grid. In a sport known for exclusivity, this level of access is a big shift.
Benson Boone Hit the Track with Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen took singer Benson Boone for a lap around the circuit, a casual warm-up to Boone’s UAE debut. After an afternoon spent in the paddock mingling with fans and drivers, the ride became one of the day’s most viral moments.
A New Race Week Tradition Took Shape
For the first time in Abu Dhabi GP history, fans stepped directly from the pit lane walk onto an illuminated FAB Track Walk around Yas Marina Circuit, continuing all the way to Etihad Park. The result was a city-within-a-circuit experience that set the tone for the weekend.
Benson Boone Opened the After-Race Concert Series
Boone launched this year’s Emirates NBD After-Race Concerts with a high-intensity, emotionally charged performance backed by his full band. It was the first of four nights of music that now define the entertainment side of race weekend.
Ferrari’s “Class of ’25” Took Their Family Photo
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton gathered in front of the Shams Tower for Ferrari’s first official team photo of the season, a moment that instantly became one of the most anticipated images of the weekend.
Yas Heat Walked the Circuit Before Their F4 Trophy Debut
Before the F4 action begins, Yas Heat’s drivers took their traditional track walk, studying grip, racing lines, and strategy corner by corner. It’s a ritual that reveals exactly how future champions are shaped.
