ROAD-LEGAL CARS THAT FEEL CLOSEST TO F1 CARS AT THE ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX

If you were at Yas Marina recently, you know the feeling I mean. Not the Instagram feeling. The real one.

The moment an F1 car comes off a slower corner and the engine note climbs like it is being pulled upward by a cable, the way the car just grips and goes, the way the brakes look like they should be illegal, and then the whole thing happens again two seconds later. You walk out thinking you just watched speed, but what you really watched was control. Brutal control.

Now the awkward question: can any road-legal car get you close to that sensation in the UAE?

Not to the same level, no. An F1 car is lighter, generates far more downforce, and brakes in a way that road tyres simply cannot replicate. But there are a few road cars that feel closer than the rest, and they do it for specific technical reasons. This is not a list of “expensive cars that are fast.” It is a list of cars that mimic parts of the F1 experience: hybrid punch, aero grip, braking confidence, and that sharp, alert chassis feel that makes everything seem immediate.

To keep this responsible and realistic, one thing upfront. If you want to explore these cars properly, do it on a track, or in a controlled experience. The UAE has options for that. More on those later.

What “F1-like” Actually Means in a Road Car

A lot of people think F1 is mostly about top speed. It is not. The most memorable part, especially at Yas, is how quickly the cars change state.

They accelerate hard, yes. But they also brake insanely late, rotate into corners without hesitation, and carry speed in places where a normal car would be washing wide and begging you to lift. Most of that comes down to three things.

First, response. F1 cars react to small inputs instantly. There is no softness.

Second, braking stability. Many fast road cars have strong brakes, but fewer remain calm, straight, and confidence-inspiring when you hit them hard repeatedly.

Third, downforce and grip. Aerodynamics are the real cheat code. Downforce is why F1 cars look like they are on rails.

So the best road-legal “closest to F1” cars are usually the ones that bring at least two of these traits together, not just a big horsepower number.

The Short List That Makes Sense in the UAE

This list focuses on cars you can actually see, buy, and maintain in the UAE’s enthusiast ecosystem. Each entry includes the key specs that matter and the real reason it earns a place.

Ferrari SF90 Stradale

Hybrid response that feels closer to modern F1 than most people expect

The SF90 Stradale belongs on this list because it behaves like a modern performance system, not just a powerful engine.

Ferrari rates the SF90 at 1000 cv total system output. That headline number is impressive, but the more important part is how it delivers power. In many turbocharged cars, even very fast ones, there is a slight delay between your intent and the car’s response. With the SF90’s hybrid system, torque fills in instantly. The car feels like it is already in the right gear, already in the right boost, already ready.

Ferrari’s own figures put the SF90 at 0 to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds. That matters in the UAE because the sensation you remember from Yas is repeated acceleration, not a single launch. A car that can deliver instant shove at different speeds feels more “race-like” than a car that only feels dramatic from a standstill.

The SF90 also uses four-wheel drive, which is a huge reason it feels so violent off slower corners. At Yas, corner exits matter. The SF90 gives you that planted, catapult-like exit that makes you think of an F1 car deploying power cleanly. It is not the same thing as F1 traction, but the emotional effect is surprisingly close.

Where the SF90 really earns its place is the way it blends systems. Hybrid power delivery, traction management, and braking integration are all working together. It feels engineered with a racing mindset, where the goal is not just speed but repeatable performance.

McLaren 765LT

Lightness, aero intent, and brake confidence that feels like a track weapon

The McLaren 765LT is the car on this list that most naturally feels like it was designed by people who think in lap times.

McLaren rates it at 765 PS and 800 Nm. It also claims 0 to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds. Those numbers are strong, but again, the reason it belongs here is the feel, not just the figures.

The 765LT’s “F1 weekend” vibe comes from immediacy. You turn and it responds. You brake and it sheds speed with very little drama. The nose points where you want, and the car rotates in a way that feels precise, not lazy. That sharpness is what makes F1 look so unreal in person.

It also helps that McLaren’s Longtail philosophy puts real attention on weight reduction and aerodynamic performance. That matters because it changes how the car behaves at speed. It does not feel like a heavy object being forced to go fast. It feels like something that naturally wants to go fast, and then dares you to keep up with it.

If you are trying to replicate the Yas sensation of late braking into a slow corner and getting back on the power early, the 765LT is one of the best road cars at translating that rhythm into something you can actually experience.

Porsche 911 GT3 RS (992)

Aero grip, DRS, and downforce numbers that sound like a joke until you feel it

If your mental picture of F1 is not the straight-line blast but the cornering speed, the GT3 RS is the clearest answer.

Porsche rates the 992-generation 911 GT3 RS at 525 PS with 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds. On paper, that sprint figure is not the fastest here, and that is the point. The GT3 RS is not trying to win a drag race. It is trying to carry speed where other cars cannot.

The real headline is aerodynamic. Porsche states the car generates 860 kg of downforce at 285 km/h. That is a wild number for a road-legal car. It also features DRS, which Porsche says is fitted to a production car for the first time.

This is why the GT3 RS belongs on an “F1-like” list. Downforce changes the entire experience. A car with real aero grip does not just feel faster, it feels calmer at speed. It is more stable on corner entry. It takes a set and holds it. It gives you the confidence to commit, which is exactly what you see from F1 drivers at Yas when they look glued to the racing line.

In a city full of very powerful cars, the GT3 RS stands out because of how it corners and how it communicates. The feeling is less “supercar theatre” and more “track tool that happens to have number plates.”

Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series

Flat-plane V8 character, serious power, and a car that expects commitment

Some cars feel fast. The GT Black Series feels intense.

Mercedes describes the GT Black Series engine as using a flat-plane crankshaft, along with other specific components like different camshafts and twin-scroll turbochargers. That matters because flat-plane V8s tend to have a sharper, more urgent character than the usual AMG V8 experience. The engine feels more race-bred in how it responds and how it builds speed.

Mercedes’ own published numbers for the GT Black Series include 537 kW and 800 Nm, with 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and a 325 km/h top speed.

So why is it “F1 weekend” material?

Because it is aero-led and hardware-led in a way many road cars are not. It is not just an AMG with more power. It is a car built around performance intent. Strong braking, high-speed stability, and an engine that feels like it was tuned to be aggressive, not polite.

At Yas, you notice the difference between cars that are simply quick and cars that are confident at speed. The Black Series sits closer to the second category than most road cars, especially when driven in the environment it was designed for.

Why These Cars Earn a Spot, Put Simply

Here is the honest logic behind the list, in plain language.

The SF90 Stradale earns its spot because hybrid response and traction make acceleration feel instant and repeatable, similar to the modern F1 vibe.

The 765LT earns its spot because it feels light, sharp, and confident under braking. That is a big part of what makes F1 look surgical.

The GT3 RS earns its spot because downforce is the closest thing to real F1 magic you can get on the road, and this car has absurd downforce for something road legal, plus DRS as a functional concept.

The AMG GT Black Series earns its spot because it combines motorsport-flavoured engine hardware with track-focused stability and a personality that feels properly serious.

If You Want the Feeling, Not Just the Fantasy

Yas Marina alternatives that actually make sense

If your goal is to chase the Abu Dhabi F1 feeling in a way that is safe and legal, the smartest move is not trying to replicate it on public roads. The UAE gives you better options.

Yas Marina Circuit offers driving and passenger experiences throughout the year. You can do track sessions, passenger laps, and other experiences that let you feel speed in a controlled environment. If you want the closest taste of motorsport intensity, that is the place to start.

If you already own a performance car and you want to enjoy it properly, a car track day on a circuit is where the car makes sense. Heat management, braking, tyres, and fluid condition suddenly matter. The car becomes a system, not a toy.

This is also where preparation matters. Track driving exposes weak points quickly. If you are planning a track session, make sure your brakes, tyres, cooling system, and fluids are in excellent condition. The UAE climate is not forgiving, and performance cars tend to be very honest when they are stressed.