There is only one weekend the whole country is looking forward to throughout the year. This year, the star dates are December 5 to 7. We all know what I am talking about — the amazing Formula 1. While we are awaiting the stunning weekend, loud cheers, incredible lineup and the shivering excitement — I had a chance to sneak in and meet the heroes behind our delight! This article is a small behind-the-scenes preview of what we are awaiting. Also — don’t forget to check out the tickets here to make sure you avoid the F1 FOMO.

Formula 1 may be the UAE’s most glamorous weekend, but behind the scenes, the country’s season finale is shaped by a quieter ecosystem: the teams who keep the track safe, the designers who rethink the infrastructure, and the leadership reimagining what a motorsport venue can be when the world isn’t watching.

This year, as Yas Marina Circuit unveils its upgraded, FIA-spec Race Control Room — the most advanced in the region (and in the world) — there is a shift in mood. Yes, the technology is world-class, it is the true state of the art. But the story is no longer just about racing. It is about culture, sustainability, access, and people.

“Being the host of the season finale means we carry a responsibility that goes beyond a single weekend,” says Ali Al Beshr, General Manager of Yas Marina Circuit.

Under his leadership, the track has become as much a community space as a sporting landmark. Large parts of the surrounding landscape are now green public zones. Post-race, the site opens up for cyclists, runners, families, and everyday residents. Even the design choices reflect longevity — from reusing aluminium cans from fans’ trash to create shade structures in the parking areas to embedding sustainability into every upgrade.

And inside the organisation, the team is consciously shifting too: “We’re driving diversity at every level, especially increasing female representation. It’s important the team reflects the community we serve,” Al Beshr notes.

Step inside Race Control and the contrast is striking. Instead of chaos, there is calm. Instead of adrenaline, there is focus. “It’s actually one of the quietest rooms during the entire Grand Prix,” says Stuart Latham, the Circuit’s Safety & Operations Director. His team — many of whom have been with him for years — move with the coordination of a well-rehearsed orchestra, monitoring dozens of feeds and making decisions that ripple out across the world.

Behind every overtake, every yellow flag, every perfectly timed restart, there is this room: dimly lit, disciplined, steady. We had a chance to step inside and ask Stuart a few questions on the upcoming race.

— Did you feel a shift in how people perceive Formula 1 after Drive to Survive by Netflix and the F1 movie?

— Absolutely. Drive to Survive had a huge impact. Formula 1 was popular before, but more niche. After the show, interest grew massively. It was a masterstroke bringing Netflix on board. And with the movie filming here for two years — seeing the final product was amazing. Yas Marina was heavily featured.

— What is it really like to run Race Control — the nerve centre of the Grand Prix?

— It is actually one of the calmest places during the entire Grand Prix. I have an incredible team with a huge amount of experience, and that professionalism keeps the room steady. Everyone knows their role and follows the procedures, so even when the pressure is high, the atmosphere stays controlled and focused. The FIA stewards — the F1 jury — sit in the room with us as well, and that structure helps maintain a very calm, disciplined environment. That is exactly how it needs to be.

— What is your favourite moment across the race weekend?

— The moment the chequered flag drops. Not because it is over, but because of the feeling: elation, satisfaction, pride. Such a feeling of accomplishment. I always tell my team that if I could bottle that feeling and sell it, I would be a millionaire. You can’t buy that. Knowing that what we just delivered is being seen around the world is incredible.

— You joined Yas Marina Circuit in 2010. How has Yas Island changed since then?

— The growth has been huge. There is far more traffic and activity now than in 2010 or 2011. The circuit was one of the first things built on the island, along with Ferrari World, and both drove a lot of people here. If you look at tourism metrics over the last 10–12 years, it is an exponential increase.

— Can volunteering genuinely lead to a career at the circuit?

— Absolutely. That is how I started. I volunteered in motorsport in the UK — Marshalling at Silverstone and Donington. One day, on my birthday in 2010, I got a call from Abu Dhabi offering me a job at Yas Marina. And recently, we hired one of our long-term volunteers here as well. Giving your time to something you love can get you noticed.

— How do you decompress after such an intense weekend?

— Experience helps a lot. Being close with your colleagues is important — being able to laugh, even with some dark humour, which is common in emergency services. Personally, I usually do a 30-minute workout, then cook dinner, watch Netflix with my wife, or walk the dog. Simple things help you de-stress.

— Is your wife also into Formula 1?

— She wasn’t, but after she met me, she got into it. Now she is really engaged and sometimes surprises me. She is half Swedish, half Finnish, so she used to support Valtteri Bottas. And she likes Mercedes as a team.

— What is the fastest thing you have driven on the track?

— I have personally driven one of our Aston Martins — a proper GT4 — which was fantastic. As a passenger, I have been in a Radical with an instructor. That was very quick. The most impressive thing isn’t the acceleration, it is the braking. You are sitting there thinking, “There’s a corner — why isn’t he braking?” And then suddenly he brakes, and you realise what the car can actually do. It is an incredible experience.

What makes this place interesting isn’t just the hardware. It is the humanity behind it. The volunteers who one day become senior staff. The colleagues who decompress together after the most intense weekend of the year. The families who unexpectedly fall in love with the sport. The moment the chequered flag drops — not signalling an ending, but a shared emotional high that Latham describes as “a feeling I wish I could bottle.”

Across Yas Island, the grandstands will soon fill, the engines will roar, and millions will tune in. But this year, Formula 1 in Abu Dhabi isn’t just a spectacle — it is a window into how a modern sporting institution evolves: technologically, environmentally, and culturally. And perhaps, that is the most compelling race happening here.