More F1 tracks could get extra DRS zones in 2018

More DRS zones could appear at other Formula 1 circuits on the 2018 calendar, following the addition of a third zone for this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix. 

The FIA announced in the build up to Melbourne’s season-opener that an extra DRS zone would be added on the straight between Turns 12 and 13, in a bid to improve the spectacle after just two overtakes were recorded at last year’s race. 

Sunday’s grand prix will be the first time a race has featured three opportunities to use the drag reduction system since its introduction to the sport in 2011. FIA race director Charlie Whiting revealed further circuits could follow suit this year. 

“We’re just looking at trying to optimise or maximise what can be done with the DRS,” Whiting explained. “This is not an ideal circuit for that as you know. The two DRS zones that we’ve had now are not particularly effective. We just thought there is an opportunity to do something on that stretch between turns 12 and 13. 

“If a driver can get a little closer than he otherwise may have done he may then get detection at turn 14 which would allow him to use it on the two stretches [later]. It’s something just to offer a little something else.

“We will try and do something more effective at other tracks where there’s more opportunity to do that.”

The addition of a third DRS zone at Melbourne was widely welcomed by F1 drivers, with Kevin Magnussen saying it would improve racing in Australia “a lot”. 

On the subject of adding a third zone at other tracks, Magnussen added: “Some tracks, they don’t need to put another zone, maybe they could just extend the zone. 

“I don’t know, it’s not up to me but I think it’s good what they’ve done here.”

Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly also backed the move, adding it would make sense to add a third DRS zone to boost overtaking at other circuits on the calendar. 

“It will give us more opportunities to overtake but we don’t want to make it too easy because we want to see proper overtakes. I think on certain tracks it will make sense to do it.”