Formula 1 would break the record for DRS activation zones at the 2022 Australian Grand Prix, however, a few minutes before the start of the third and final free practice session on Saturday, the FIA decided to remove one of these sections for reasons of security.
The Melbourne circuit featured three DRS zones when the Grand Circus last competed there in 2019, but has since undergone a radical overhaul to create a faster, smoother track which has been sought to enhance the spectacle and the number of overtaking of the test that was incorporated into the calendar in the 1996 season.
The changes to the Albert Park configuration have been much discussed among the drivers, as some defended that it would be possible to see a more entertaining race, while others maintained that overtaking maneuvers would be complicated by having faster sections.
Due to the pandemic, the organizers carried out the update of the circuit, resurfacing, widening and changing some of the corners that gave drivers so much trouble to make wheel-to-wheel battles a reality.
The FIA also decided to add one more DRS zone, so the Australian Grand Prix would have four regions on the track where it would be possible to activate the mobile spoiler if you are less than a second from the car in front in the race.
This translated into a record never before seen in Formula 1, so that more than half of the route in Melbourne could be done with the DRS activated. But after the first two free practice sessions, the highest governing body made the decision to eliminate a DRS zone to return to the three they already had in Melbourne.
This is the section of track that runs from the wide right turn 8 to the fast left turn 9, where the old sequence of chicanes that used to be in that part of Albert Park is replaced.
The DRS following Turns 9-10 remains unchanged, with the trigger point moved to be just before the start of Turn 9.
From there, drivers can open their wings after passing through Turn 10 and heading for Turn 11, which is expected to be the best overtaking point for single-seaters on the new Albert Park layout.
The remaining two DRS zones and their activation points remain intact, as drivers can activate the system when heading into the pit lane and the second lane leading into tight Turn 3.
In a note to the teams announcing the move, the race director for this event, Niels Wittich , said: “For safety reasons, the DRS zones will be reduced to 3 for the remainder of the event.”
“DRS 1 detection will be moved to before Turn 9, DRS 1 activation will be after Turn 10, DRS 2 detection will remain unchanged, and subsequent activation zones will be renumbered accordingly.”
