Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2022: Anticipation builds as first racers hit Yas Marina Circuit

Things are finally getting noisy at Yas, with the action now under way

The sky was filled with streaks of red, white, green and black as Al Fursan aerial display team whizzed above Yas Marina Circuit in the UAE capital in their Aermacchi MB-339A jets joined by Etihad Boeing 737 before the start of Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix. Victor Besa / The National

Marcus Ericsson and Iris Jondahl on championship day behind the Pit Lane Walk at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Emi Suzuki and Eric Tanner on championship race day behind the Pit Lane Walk at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Race fans arrive on championship day behind the Pit Lane Walk at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Antonio Silva, Adrian Lee-chin and Rogers Sithole on championship day behind the Pit Lane Walk at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

McLaren Team yearl ender photo session with Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris on championship day behind the Pit Lane Walk at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

End of Year F1 Driver’s Photo Session and Parade 2022. Victor Besa / The National

Sebastian Vettel waves to fans during the driver's parade. Victor Besa / The National

Lewis Hamilton during the End of Year F1 Driver’s Photo Session and Parade 2022. Victor Besa / The National

End of Year F1 Driver’s Photo Session and Parade 2022. Victor Besa / The National

End of Year F1 Driver’s Photo Session and Parade 2022. Victor Besa / The National

End of Year F1 Driver’s Photo Session and Parade 2022. Victor Besa / The National

Lewis Hamilton of Red Bull arrives at Yas Marina Circuit on the final day of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2022. Victor Besa / The National

Jackie Stewart arrives at Marina Circuit on the final day of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2022. Victor Besa / The National

Daniel Ricciardo of McLaren arrives at Yas Marina Circuit on the final day of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2022. Victor Besa / The National

Lance Stroll of Aston Martin arrives at Yas Marina Circuit on the final day of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2022. Victor Besa / The National

George Russell of Mercedes arrives with girlfriend Carmen Montero at Marina Circuit on the final day of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2022. Victor Besa / The National

Max Verstappen prepares to drive in the garage during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on Friday. Getty

Sergio Perez of Mexico gets ready for practice at Yas Marina on Friday. Getty

Sergio Perez of Mexico with Oracle Red Bull Racing team members prepares for the Abu Dhabi race. Getty

Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Oracle Red Bull Racing prepares to drive at Yas Marina on Friday. Getty

Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Scuderia AlphaTauri prepares to drive in the garage during practice on Friday. Getty

Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Scuderia AlphaTauri prepares to drive in the garage during practice on Friday. Getty

Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Carlin (5) drives in qualifying ahead of Round 14 at Yas Island on Friday. Getty

Best friends Shamsa Al Naqbi, Shamsa Al Mansoori and Alyazia Al Kalbaniat at the F1 fanzone area in Yas Marina Circuit on Friday. Victor Besa / The National

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull's Sergio Perez in action during practice on Friday. Reuters

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton arrives at Yas Marina Circut ahead of Friday's first practice for the 2022 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Reuters

McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo arrives ahead of practice. Reuters

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc arrives ahead of Friday's first practice. Reuters

AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly. Reuters

Formula One world champion Red Bull's Max Verstappen arrives ahead of practice. Reuters

Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel poses for a selfie. Reuters

Aston Martin's German driver Sebastian Vettel poses for a selfie with a fan. AFP

McLaren's British driver Lando Norris arrives before the first practice session ahead of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit. AFP

McLaren's Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo arrives at Yas Marina Circuit. AFP

Williams' Thai driver Alex Albon and Canadian teammate Nicholas Latifi. AFP

AlphaTauri's Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda arrives before the first practice session. AFP

Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Scuderia AlphaTauri team members walk the track at Yas Marina. Getty

F1 world champion Max Verstappen of Oracle Red Bull Racing (R) speaks to FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem. AP

Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson has a seat fitting in the Red Bull Racing garage. Getty

Staff at the circuit. Victor Besa / The National

Fans walk on the tracks of Yas Marina Circuit. Victor Besa / The National

Staff prepare for the F1 race. Victor Besa / The National

Fans take a photo. Victor Besa / The National

Yachts are moored at the marina. Victor Besa / The National

The atmosphere at Yas Marina Circuit began to build in earnest on Friday morning ahead of the 2022 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix.

Drivers arrived at the circuit, greeting fans as they did so, while crowds moved in, jockeying for seats amid the tremendous wall of sound coming from the first cars to hit the track around the middle of the morning.

The team villas, set behind the pit lane, had become a hive of activity, with tannoy messages reverberating around the area, issuing instructions to crews.

There had been a lull around that zone on Thursday after the initial rush to get everything set up, but the intensity of the early part of the week was back with a vengeance right from the start of the day.

Just down the road from the team villas, the Paddock Club opened its doors to the first ticket holders of the weekend, giving those entering some of the best views of the track. The venue is made up of individual units, with each one offering not only food and beverages but access to seating above the home straight.

Friday is when the first Paddock Club pit lane walks happen as well and those eligible seemed keen for a close-up look at what was afoot in the busy garages.

As for the racing itself, the weekend’s action began with the F4 UAE and F2 practice sessions, with the first F1 action slotted in for 2pm.