Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, has revealed three DRS zones will be used during this weekend’s Australian GP for the first time.
The still divisive overtaking aid, which sees a driver within a second of the car ahead at a detection point able to open a flap in the rear wing for greater top speed, has been restricted to just one or two straights since its inception in 2011.
However, after last year’s race in Melbourne proved one of the least eventful – mostly due to the new, faster cars – the FIA has moved to increase overtaking opportunities for this year.
The two zones from previous years remain in place on the start/ finish straight and the run to Turn 3 with a single detection point prior to Turn 14, however, the third location is on the last of the back straights from the high-speed chicane at Turns 11 & 12 to the right-hander at Turn 13.
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With this year’s Pirelli tyres also susceptible to higher degradation, this could prove a very effective area if a car behind is able to carry greater speed through the left, right combination. If the driver is unable to follow closely, however, the impact could be negligible.