A look inside Abu Dhabi’s new multimillion-dirham F1 race control room

Yas Marina Circuit Abu Dhabi has just acquired something remarkable. A brand new race control room worth millions of dirhams has been built. This is the place where all the powerful individuals sit during the F1 race and guarantee everything is running smoothly.

The control room was inaugurated a little before the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi. Officials referred to it as the nerve center of the whole circuit, as this is where they monitor every little thing happening on the track.

What is so unique about this room?

The new control center is equipped with some of the most advanced technological features. The track is surrounded by 55 cameras and the operators in this room can view all the cameras simultaneously. They can easily switch between different camera angles with just a tap on the tablet making their work much easier.

The previous control room was built in 2009 and it had a lot of issues. Teams had to lug their own gear to the venue which took a lot of time and money. The new room eliminates all the previous concerns.

Stuart Latham is the Safety and Operations Director at Yas Marina Circuit. He mentioned that they did not only satisfy the minimum FIA standards but they went a long way in exceeding them. He believes that this is now one of the most sophisticated race control rooms in the world.

Smart systems that make things faster

The major change in this area of work is now the speed of everything. The basic capabilities for the officials are as follows:

In a matter of seconds, the feed from any camera can be seen on any screen.

Timing systems and race logs are made visible instantly at the time of their need.

Car trackers enable the monitoring of every driver’s position in real-time.

Broadcast feeds are established without extra hardware needed.

All this gets controlled through tablets so there is no one running around connecting wires or calling the IT guys anymore. The room has a central matrix system that interconnects everything which results in much smoother operations.

The teams that come in with airplanes for races are now allowed to use the circuit’s equipment instead of bringing in their own. This means a significant reduction in the time and costs for setting up.

Khelo24race fans would be happy to learn that this tech enables the officials to monitor every single moment of the action. The circuit is capable of handling many different racing series over the years; thus, such a flexible system is indeed a great help.

How many workers are there?

During the weekend of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, about 28 staff members are assigned to this control room. Some of them work for shifts as long as 12 hours which surely sounds exhausting.

These officials must communicate with the team principals and track marshals while also viewing massive quantities of information at the same time. They have to cover the whole track and make rapid decisions that ensure everyone’s safety.

The design helps people focus better

The room has undergone a complete transformation. The newly designed theater-style layout is the main reason for this change. The main display screens at every workstation have unobstructed views so that no one will be left out of the important happenings.

The room has been darkened and special LED lights have been installed that can be dimmed if necessary. People sitting there for many hours can prevent glare from bothering their eyes which is very important indeed.

In addition, they concealed the new cables under the flooring and installed access panels which made the entire area look neater. The sound systems are integrated into the walls thus there are no messy wires hanging around.

The custom-designed desks grant officials more comfort during those long hours of work. Everything was organized in such a way that people could stay focused even under very high pressure.

Why Abu Dhabi needed this upgrade

Ali Al Beshr is the General Manager of Yas Marina Circuit at Ethara. He told that the circuit bears the F1 season finale which indicates great historical events to take place there. Sometimes Abu Dhabi decides the championship winner or there is a famous driver who races there for the last time.

The circuit thus has to be fully prepared for everything. The new control room provides the officials with tools that enable them to make confident and quick decisions. If everything is perfectly collaborated then the racing can really be the center of attraction.

Al Beshr further told that they have implemented a great deal of learning over the last fifteen years since the first control room was set up. The previous layout posed numerous difficulties primarily when the visiting championships arrived. The fully reengineered room has eliminated those old issues.

Safety comes first always

The course clerk is in charge of the safety and has the most important job. If he thinks something is dangerous he can immediately intervene. The race director is in constant communication with him to solve the issues that arise.

The race officials at the track have the ability to control the digital flag panels in the race control room. When they see a dangerous situation they turn on the warnings that alert drivers to be cautious in that area. If it is necessary they can deploy the safety car within a matter of seconds. The primary aim is always to keep the racing atmosphere fair and safe for all.

More than just F1 races

The control room is not left empty after the Grand Prix is over. The circuit takes advantage of it all year round for health activities, training, driver education, and even community events.

The new room has already begun functioning during the first leg of the Yas Racing Series which took place on October 31 through November 2.

Throughout the 2025-26 season it will oversee many different racing events including:

• Autonomous Racing Series
• Lenovo Gulf 12 hours
• Asian Le Mans Series
• F4 Middle East
• Formula Regional Middle East

All these events benefit from the same advanced technology that F1 uses.

What happens during a race weekend?

The 2025 F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is scheduled for December 5-7 at the Yas Marina Circuit. The control room during this weekend will be extremely busy managing the practice sessions, qualifying rounds and the main race one after the other.

The officials in the control room start and finish the Grand Prix from there. They impose all the regulations and monitor each and every part of the track operations to ensure the complete safety of drivers, staff and thousands of fans.

Khelo24race fans can understand the scale of the operation that goes into such a huge event. This central place is responsible for the monitoring of every camera angle, every timing screen and every communication channel.

Summing Up

This upgrade worth millions of dirhams is a clear indication of how committed Yas Marina Circuit is to not only staying ahead but also being the best amongst the rest. They want to be recognized as one of the smartest and the most high-tech F1 tracks on the globe.

The circuit is not only for racing anymore. It has transformed into a smart venue that caters the community in various ways. The control room is a symbol of the years of planning and hard work.

Latham said they are proud of their creation as each detail contributes to providing a perfect working environment for the best motorsport championships in the world. The facility surpasses FIA standards and makes a new measure for what race control rooms should be like.

The mix of smart technology, improved design and safety focus make this control room a winner. Officials now have all they want to cope with whatever happens during a race. The adaptable systems mean they can quickly switch to any scenario that crops up.

Abu Dhabi does not stop in showing why it is the rightful place for the season finale every year. This new control room is another reason why they keep raising the bar for the entire motorsport industry.