Ultimate Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2023 Review

“Our dedicated travel specialist, Simon, took the ultimate trip to watch the action-packed Formula 1 season come to a spectacular close in Abu Dhabi. After his experience watching the drivers battle to the finishing line on the Yas Marina Circuit and indulging in the inviting luxury of the Grand Prix event, Simon’s F1 experiences review can show you everything you can look forward to. Read on to find out more from Simon’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2024 review.”

Everything from the nail-biting race and the accompanying luxury to the surrounding beauty of the city was captivating. With superb accommodation and, premium seating and hospitality, there was no better way to round off the season.

From before the event started to hours after the event, there was unbelievable entertainment in and around the Yas Marina Circuit. With headlining artists to the unmissable surrounding attractions, you won’t be bored for a second with our Abu Dhabi Grand Prix packages!

Your Abu Dhabi accommodation during your stay

I recommend you stay at The Beach Rotana. This fantastic hotel is located within the Abu Dhabi city, excellent for heading out to explore, and just a short drive from the Yas Marina Circuit. Here, you can sit back and soak in the glorious sun by the pool before the race begins, and unwind in one of the many bars and restaurants in the hotel. Savour delicious Italian cuisine or indulge in sumptuous steak and the Rodeo Grill. For those who want to get the heart rate up before the excitement of the Grand Prix, the Beach Rotana has one of the best hotel gyms that I have ever been in.

If you want to upgrade your package, the Saadiyat Rotana Resort on Saadiyat Island is a little piece of paradise in this bustling city. With welcoming beachfront location on white-sand beaches stretching as far as the eye can see, this is the perfect hotel for the Formula 1 enthusiast craving a day to relax before a day of high-octane racing. One added benefit of this hotel is that in recent years, many drivers and teams have used this hotel as their base for the week, so keep your eyes peeled!

Which Abu Dhabi Grand Prix tickets we recommend

One of my favourite parts of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is that there isn’t a bad view in the house. Regardless of where you sit in the Yas Marina Circuit, you’ll always have an incredible view of the racing.

Alternatively, for all-out racing action, I recommend the West Grandstand. Here, you can enjoy views all the way down the start/finish straight – a prime spot for late braking into the tight chicane.

My personal favourite is the North Grandstand. This vast, open horseshoe grandstand is home to the circuits most challenging hairpin turn and was the site of the famous Verstappen overtake back in 2021 to deny Lewis the world championship. For guests who have never been to this event before, this grandstand is also the closest to Etihad Park where the post-race concerts will take place. No transfers are required, just walk out of the back of your grandstand and you will be there!

Which hospitality package we recommend

Hospitality in Abu Dhabi is plentiful, with each suite having its own unique features and superb views. From the Greek Taverna of the Deck at Nine through to the exquisite fine dining of Paddock Club, you won’t be short of places to enjoy the race.

For the past two years, Spectate have been fortunate to have their own private hospitality suite in the Marina Grandstand and our guests have loved their experiences here with us. Included in this premium Spectate package, you can enjoy an open bar, serving wines, beers, champagne, and various soft drinks throughout the day alongside excellent dining with world class cuisine and breathtaking panoramic views of the circuit and marina - the Spectate Platinum suite is one not to be missed.

What is the entertainment like during the Grand Prix?

Abu Dhabi is famous for its post-race concerts and are not to be missed. Over the years, the lineups get bigger and bigger, and competition amongst the artists to headline this event is stronger than ever.

The Abu Dhabi F1 concerts in 2023 were definitely a highlight of my F1 experience. Our guests and I were greeted to performances by:

• Ava Max
• Tiesto
• Shania Twain
• Chris Brown
• Foo Fighters

You can look forward to all of this as it is included within your ticket. However, if you’re wanting that extra VIP experience, Golden Circle wristbands will get you right to the front of the stage!

This year, you can look forward to another impressive line-up. I'm especially excited to see Muse, Maroon 5, Eminem, Teddy Swims, and Peggy Gou take the stage and headline the concerts in 2024!

The highlights of the Yas Marina Circuit

Every year I look forward to coming back to this event. With the dark nights drawing in back home and temperatures falling, it’s amazing to head to Abu Dhabi and catch some winter sun!

The Yas Marina Circuit is designed with racing in mind, and everything is there to make your experience the best it can be. There are food and drinks stalls aplenty, a myriad of merchandise areas, interactive games and simulators and much more to make your experience the best it can be.

My favourite thing, however, will always be the sun setting as the race starts to build up, the cars starting their formation laps and then as if by magic, a switch is flicked and its nighttime. The circuit is illuminated as clear as day and the lights of the W Hotel provide the most perfect of backdrops for this season finale. What better way to view the Grand Prix season finale?

What is the nightlife like?

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend is all about the nightlife! You can experience the buzzing atmosphere first hand when the night draws in and the W Hotel comes to life with DJ sets, lively light shows and upbeat music echoing around the circuit.

However, if the post-race circuit is not your scene, it’s still worth having a stroll over to this property to have a few drinks and check out the sights during a calm afternoon.

Things to do during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend

For the first time in 2023, all tickets included access to the Yas Parks on Yas Island. Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, Sea World and Warner Bro’s World opened their doors to all guests free of charge, making for an incredible experience -the perfect add-on to an F1 adventure.

Of course, you’ll want to visit Ferrari World during the Grand Prix. You can enjoy interactive exhibits, hands on experiences, rollercoasters, cars throughout the years and much more, it is well worth a visit. My advice would be to give yourself a few hours to experience it fully, as queues for the rides can be quite long.

Find out more about your 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix package

Head to the Yas Marina for the nail-biting action of the F1 Abu Dhabi season finale. Happening on Sunday 8 December, you can join Spectate for a wide range of packages, including an exciting four-night stay between 05 – 09 December.

Don’t worry, our F1 holiday packages cover the best seats in the house, Pit Lane walk admissions and tickets to the unmissable post-race concerts! Bu keep an eye out for any upgrades that we offer, some of them might tick one of your boxes.

Hear Simon's insider insights for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2024

If you want to discover more about this event from Simon, watch his Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2024 Guide video. Find out more about what you can expect when you join him in at the Yas Marina Circuit, watching the winner crowned in style. 

Book your Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2024 package today!

Experience the F1 season finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with Spectate in 2024.

With expert, first-hand knowledge, our team can tailor-make your stay beyond the races. Bask in luxury hotels and dine on superb cuisine and much more to make your Grand Prix weekend an exceptional experience.