F1 drivers wanted DRS through Blanchimont at Spa

Formula 1 race director Charlie Whiting received a request from some drivers to place a third DRS zone through the Blanchimont corner at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, but opted against its implementation.

In a bid to aid overtaking through 2018, an additional DRS zone has been added to a number of circuits so far this season, and as the longest track on the F1 calendar, Spa appeared well-suited to having a third zone put in place.

While it was considered following calls from some drivers to put in a zone through the high-speed left-hander at Blanchimont in the final sector, Whiting confirmed that there would still be two zones at Spa, with the second zone on the Kemmel Straight being extended.

"The DRS zone going up to Les Combes will be 100 metres longer. The other DRS zone is on the pit straight, which doesn't really do an awful lot," Whiting said.

"I did have a discussion with a couple of drivers this weekend about where else we could do it at Spa, and I think it's not really realistic to do it anywhere else.

"Some drivers fancied the idea of going through Turn 16 and 17 with it open, but I'm not sure it's a good idea."

Concerns about DRS usage through high-speed corners were sparked at Silverstone, when drivers had the opportunity to use it through the fast Turn 1, with Romain Grosjean and Marcus Ericsson both suffering big crashes at the corner after leaving the flap in their rear wings open.

The Belgian Grand Prix takes place at Spa from August 24-26.