Abu Dhabi Grand Prix could be a crash-fest, says David Coulthard

Former Formula One racing driver David Coulthard has warned that the new Abu Dhabi circuit's shortened run-off areas could see ambitious racers pay for their mistakes during the final race of the season on Sunday.

"It will really sorts out the men from the boys. It will really surprise a lot of the guys just how tight it is in places. Drivers have got used to having tracks with lots of run off and then they go to Suzuka, which is a track with not a lot of run-off, and kids are throwing it in the wall," The Mirror quoted Coulthard, as saying.

"We need an element of that in Formula 1 to maintain respect for the people watching that if you drop it you are going to have a ig shunt. For the drivers there has to be a price to pay for making a mistake, but not a big crash that ends up hurting omeone."

Coulthard further said that the sport's first underground pit lane exit at Abu Dhabi circuit, which is on a sharp left bend, could pose as a great challenge to drivers.

"You can look at it and say it is challenging, but the bottom line is that it is actually a bit silly. It is the width of a car and it is a 90-degree left at the bottom of a tunnel after a blind hill," Coulthard said.

"It is one of those things where someone has thought 'the FIA doesn't stipulates the amount of run-off area for the pit exit, so let's put some landmines in the wall' It is a bit silly," he added.

The twenty-one corners of the Yas Marina Circuit will twist through the man made island, passing the marina and Yas Hotel, nd winding its way through sand dunes, with several long straights and tight corners.