Abu Dhabi Grand Prix looks set to welcome fans back for 2021 race

Organisers say Yas Marina Circuit 'will see us entertaining fans in a safe and managed environment'

Red Bull's Max Verstappen after winning the 2020 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit. Getty

Fireworks go off as Max Verstappen crosses the line to win the race. Getty

Red Bull's Max Verstappen. AFP

Red Bull's Max Verstappen leads at the start of the Abu Dhabi GP. EPA

Race winner Max Verstappen in a press conference after the race. Getty

Third placed Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes. Getty

Second placed Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes. Getty

Max Verstappen of Red Bull. Getty Images

Red Bull's Max Verstappen leads the pack. AFP

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands leeads at the start of the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. AP

Reigning champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes. Getty

Race winner Max Verstappen with second placed Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton who finished third. Getty

Max Verstappen celebrates with his Red Bull team after winning in Abu Dhabi. Getty

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton burns tires after the race. AP

Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrates victory. Getty

Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes during the race. Getty

Max Verstappen celebrates with his Red Bull team after winning in Abu Dhabi. Getty

Mercedes' Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas and teammate Lewis Hamilton do doughnuts after the race. AFP

Mercedes' Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas and teammate Lewis Hamilton do doughnuts after the race. AFP

Mercedes' Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas and teammate Lewis Hamilton do doughnuts after the race. AFP

Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrates winning the race. Reuters

Left to right: Valtteri Bottas, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Getty

Red Bull's Alexander Albon who finished fourth. Reuters

An Etihad jet flies over the circuit ahead of the Grand Prix. AFP

Action from the start of the race. Reuters

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who finished 13th. AFP

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton during a warm up lap before the race. Reuters

Lance Stroll of Canada on his way to the grid prior to the race. Getty Images

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc during the race. AFP

Renault's Daniel Ricciardo, who finished 7th in Abu Dhabi. AFP

Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas. Reuters

Red Bull's Max Verstappen leads at the start of the race Pool. Reuters

Alexander Albon of Thailand. Getty

Racing Point's Lance Stroll. AFP

Red Bull's Max Verstappen leads at the start of the race. Reuters

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen. AP

Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes. Getty

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas. PA

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc makes a pitstop. Getty

Red Bull's Max Verstappen. AFP

Safety car leads the field during the race. Getty

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton. AP

Mercedes' driver Lewis Hamilton. AFP

Red Bull's Alexander Albon. AFP

Red Bull's Alexander Albon of Thailand during the warm-up lap. AP

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel. AFP

ed Bull's Max Verstappen in action at the start of the race. Reuters

Drivers on the starting grid ahead of the race. AFP

Fernando Alonso and Renault Sport F1 team members with his 2005 F1 title winning Renault R25. Getty

Fernando Alonso and Renault Sport F1 team members with his 2005 F1 title winning Renault R25. Getty

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix looks set to welcome back fans this year for the Formula One season finale.

The 2021 campaign is well under way, with world champion Lewis Hamilton trailing Max Verstappen in the driver's championship by four points as they head for the French Grand Prix this weekend.

Formula One fans have now been asked to pre-register for tickets to the last race of the season in Abu Dhabi – set to take place on Sunday, December 12 – which is planning to host spectators in a "safe and managed environment".

Last season's edition of the race was hosted without fans because of the Covid restrictions at the time, although a limited number of passses were alocated to frontline workers to thank them for their efforts during the pandemic.

A statement on the Yas Marina Circuit website reads: "We're delighted to welcome back fans for one of the biggest events on the world's sporting calendar.

"2021 sees the UAE celebrating its 50th anniversary and a myriad of accomplishments, not least bringing the 13th edition of the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix back to the world stage.

"With a packed F1 calendar for 2021, including the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021, Abu Dhabi will bring the curtain down on what promises to be an exciting season both on and off the track across four supercharged days.

"Every year we look forward to delivering a weekend of sporting and entertainment like no other in the region, and 2021 is no different.

"However, this extraordinary year there will be a few changes to our regular format. 2021 will see us entertaining fans in a safe and managed environment, and we’ll be sharing more details once we launch our ticket sales over the coming weeks. It’s safe to say though, it will be a fantastic weekend to remember."

Verstappen cruised to victory in the 2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, leading from start to finish, in a race staged without spectators.

Fans can register for more information at www.yasmarinacircuit.com/en/adgp-pre-registration