Melbourne circuit had three DRS zones when the city last hosted F1 races in 2019, but it has since undergone a major refurbishment with changes to the corners to encourage overtaking on a layout that has changed since joining the calendar in the Year 1996 had not changed.
Despite these changes, overtaking is expected to still be a challenge for F1 drivers at the first Australian GP since the COVID-19 pandemic, as the reformed layout features four DRS zones when the new layout was officially laid down by the FIA earlier this week became.
But after Friday’s opening two practice sessions in Melbourne – each topped by Ferrari pair Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc – the board reassessed the situation and removed one of the DRS zones.
The removed DRS zone extends from the sweeping right turn of Turn 8 to the fast left turn of Turn 9 which replaces the earlier chicane sequence that previously featured in this part of Albert Park.
The DRS zone following fast turns 9 and 10 remains unchanged, with the activation point moved to just before turn 9 for this run.
Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri AT03
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
From there, drivers can open their rear wings once through Turn 10 and head out onto the winding track leading to right-hand Turn 11, which has been predicted to be the best overtaking point for F1 cars at the corner Revised Albert Park Layout.
The remaining two DRS zones and their activation points remain unchanged – with drivers able to activate the system when driving down the main straight and on the second straight of the track leading to the tight right-hand corner of Turn 3.
In a note to teams announcing the move, F1 Director of Race for this event, Niels Wittich, said: “For safety reasons, DRS zones will be reduced to 3 for the remainder of the event.
“DRS Detect 1 will be moved before Turn 9, DRS Activation 1 will be after Turn 10, DRS Detect 2 will remain unchanged with subsequent activation zones renumbered accordingly.”
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