Apr.5 - There will be no fewer than 4 separate DRS zones on the Albert Park layout this weekend as Formula 1 finally returns to Australia.

With the 'ground effect' 2022 cars proving much easier for drivers to chase and pass rivals with, some have questioned whether the drag-reduction rear wing system is even needed anymore.

"I think without DRS, passing would be reduced significantly," Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz said after the opening Bahrain and Saudi Arabian grand prix.

"So I think we are still better off with it but we should make sure the advantage from DRS is not so much that overtaking becomes too easy."

Lando Norris agrees that the 2022 aerodynamics in combination with DRS are now making the racing highly unpredictable.

"I overtook Esteban Ocon on the second last lap with DRS," the McLaren driver said.

"In the past, I would have shaken him off in my turbulence, but with the new cars, he was able to keep up and overtake me on the last lap."

Red Bull boss Christian Horner, though, was critical of the way the DRS zones in Jeddah allowed Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc to play "cat and mouse" with the activation points.

"You could see them braking before the line and then accelerating again to the corner," he said.

"I think we need to take a look at where the DRS points are in the next few years so we avoid that sort of thing."

Unsurprisingly, Horner's team boss nemesis Toto Wolff doesn't agree with that.

"I have to say that I liked it," the Mercedes chief after the Verstappen-Leclerc battle. "The cars are delivering what we had hoped for.

"Obviously the DRS is a great advantage, but it also provides a very good show. As a spectator, I found it to be very entertaining."


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20 F1 Fan comments on “Albert Park track gets four DRS zones this weekend?

  1. Jere Jyrälä

    Why does FIA suddenly want to play with safety?
    Didn’t they learn anything from having an activation zone run through Abbey in 2018 that they removed immediately for the following season?
    Additionally, Suzuka’s & Spa-Francorchamps’ back straights (nor straight preceding Eau Rouge-Raidillon, etc.) don’t feature an activation zone for a reason, nor does Monaco’s tunnel section, so what’s different here?
    Zero brake application into T9 (formerly 11), so arriving into that corner with DRS activated (& at higher top speed than before) is asking for trouble since DRS & high-speed corners being a bad mix has been well established ever since 2011.
    Equally risky to Abbey, 130R, Blanchimont, etc., so double standard treatment & also gives even more reason to question not having a zone on Imola’s back straight towards Rivazza.
    I can only hope this unnecessary move won’t backfire, but I can see the zone getting removed for the next season, a la Silverstone’s S/F straight for 2019.

    Reply
  2. Swede

    I think NO zones would be best now. Let them have DRS any time they are within 1 second of the car in front, so this "braking for zones" would end. Any driver being passed would get DRS right after the pass.

    It really jas turned into high spped karting now... which is fun.

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