• Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Yas Marina circuit flawed - Whitmarsh

Martin Whitmarsh thinks the Yas Marina layout needs changing © Sutton Images

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McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh has hit out at the design of the Abu Dhabi circuit, saying that the modern Yas Marina venue is flawed.

Whitmarsh's comments come despite the fact that both of his drivers finished on the podium in the season's finale, sealing second in the constructors' championship for McLaren.

"It is a great facility and everything else, but as we saw in GP2 and as we saw in F1 it is almost impossible to overtake here," Whitmarsh told The Guardian.

"I personally would like to see it changed. I think it is a fantastic facility that we come to, but the end of the straight they need a wide challenging corner, not a chicane that has got one line through it. You could see that when we first saw the plans. There is a massive commitment here to making this a great venue, so in the scheme of things priority should be given to looking at the circuit."

Whitmarsh was not the only person to express such feelings with 1992 world champion Nigel Mansell suggesting the Hermann Tilke designed layout produced a lack of overtaking and a boring race.

"The two protagonists, Alonso and Mark (Webber) just didn't pass anybody," Mansell told the Daily Mail. "It was a very boring race. Alonso is known for his charging, and to have a car which seems to be quicker than the car in front and not being able to overtake doesn't make sense."

Circuit boss Richard Cregan, who is also pushing for a MotoGP round at the F1 venue in 2012, did not rule out layout changes for the future.

"We have already extended the exit of turn eight and we are now studying the other various elements that we can improve," Cregan told Auto Hebdo.

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