There have been eight Safety Car appearances to date at Yas Marina Circuit. Here’s a list of every time that the Safety Car or VSC has been deployed at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lap 1
The first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009 passed without requiring a Safety Car period. However, Bernd Maylander was in action on the opening lap of the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. At the first chicane, the two Mercedes made slight contact, spinning Michael Schumacher. Unsighted, Vitantonio Liuzzi drove into the Mercedes and his Force India mounted the seven time champion’s car.
2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lap 9
The slow moving HRT of Narain Karthikeyan caught out Nico Rosberg, who clattered into the back of it and flew off the track into the barriers, necessitating a Safety Car period.
2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lap 39
In a four car scrap on the 39th lap of the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Sergio Perez and Romain Grosjean made contact. Mark Webber then hit Grosjean’s Lotus, eliminating both drivers from the race. The Safety Car was required while the cars and debris were cleared away.
2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lap 1
The Safety Car made its first appearance at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in six years on the opening lap of the 2018 race. Following first lap contact, Nico Hulkenberg found himself stranded upside down in the Renault. The Safety Car was called out while Hulkenberg exited the car and the car was cleared away.
2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lap 7
Just two laps after the Safety Car returned to the pit lane, the VSC was utilised on the seventh lap of the 2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. On his final appearance with Ferrari, Kimi Raikkonen came to a stop with a loss of power on the main straight. The VSC was required while his car was pushed off track.
2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lap 10
The VSC was called out when Sergio Perez stopped in his Racing Point on the tenth lap of the 2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Marshals were unable to push the car away under VSC conditions, so this became a full Safety Car period.
2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lap 36
On his final appearance with Alfa Romeo, Antonio Giovinazzi stopped with gearbox issues. The VSC was deployed as a result.
2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lap 53
One of Formula 1’s more famous Safety Car periods, which had a major impact on the outcome of the 2021 World Championship. Five laps from the end of the race, Nicholas Latifi crashed in the final sector, leading to the deployment of the Safety Car.
