The hum of engines and the roar of the crowds can only mean one thing: Formula 1 is back in the capital to feed our need for speed

Whether you’re an F1 fanatic or just along for the ride, make sure you don’t get left in the dust with this handy guide of all you need to know about going to the F1.

Yas Marina Circuit

Yas Marina’s spectacular eponymous circuit is 5.5km of twists and turns – 21 of them, to be exact! Designed by Herman Tilke, the track was custom built for the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009 and has the longest straight of any Formula 1 track.

Just the Ticket

With the race upon us there’s only a handful of tickets left, less than 1,500, so you had better act fast if you want to see the action from trackside. Visit yasmarinacircuit.com to get your hands on some!

Trackside guide

When it comes to race day, make sure your phone is fully charged so you can take some snaps and keep up with all the action on the free YasHUB app.

The app has been designed solely for the event and you’ll be able to follow your own customised social media feed of drivers, teams and partners, as well as check race results, enter competitions and educate yourself on all things F1.

Before you go

Before hitting the grandstand for a taste of the trackside action, there’s a few things you should prepare for in order to make the most of your day.

With all the cars screeching around the circuit at high speeds, noise will be a factor that could mean you end up with more than just a headache.

The cars can be heard from over 2km away, so make sure you bring earplugs on each day to avoid hearing damage.

Although the race is a twilight race, it’s likely you’ll be in the sun for some of the day so don’t leave home without your sunscreen, and make sure to reapply throughout the day.

It rarely rains here in the desert, but an umbrella can make a handy parasol for viewers on Abu Dhabi Hill, which lacks the shade of the grandstands.

You might also want to bring a cover-up, hat and sunglasses for a little extra protection.

The action might leave your mouth dry with excitement, but as you’ll be sitting outside, be sure to make regular pit stops throughout the day and stay hydrated.

Getting there

With so many fans flocking to the circuit, the roads of Yas Island are going to be very busy on race day. Far from racing to a parking bay, you might find yourself frustratingly stuck in traffic.

Vehicle access and parking will be extremely limited, so race-goers are advised to seek alternative modes of transport.

Taxis will be in plentiful supply, and will be able to drop you off close to the gate at the circuit. To save a few dirhams, take the 190 bus from Abu Dhabi Bus Station next to Al Wahda Mall.

If you’re staying in a hotel on the island, complimentary shuttle buses will be provided by hotels.

Shuttle buses will also be operating on the island to help F1 fans get to the after-race concerts and other parts of the island. The Yas Marina shuttle bus will provide transport to the Marina and taxi stands, whereas another shuttle will be delivering race-goers to the post-race concerts at the du Arena.

What to expect

It’s easy to forget that there’s more to F1 than just the big race. Three-day ticket holders will have access to the Pit Lane Walk on Thursday 26th November, where you’ll be able to get behind-the-scenes access to the pit garages, mechanics and engineers who keep the cars running.

If you can hear your belly growling louder than the action on the track, there will be a whole host of food and beverage outlets at the F1 Village, as well as entertainment for all the family.

Outlets will be accepting both cash and card, but there will also be ATMs available around the circuit if your wallet is feeling a little light.

There’s also a chance to meet your racing heroes, with driver autograph events taking place over the course of the weekend.

Practice races on Friday 27th November will take place from 1pm. Saturday 28th November will also see a practice race from 2pm to 3pm, followed by the qualifier at 5pm. The Grand Prix itself will get underway at 5pm on Sunday 29th November.