F1 decides against DRS on Zandvoort banking for Dutch GP return

A revamped Zandvoort circuit will host the first Dutch Grand Prix since 1985 this weekend after its planned return to the calendar was postponed last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The updated venue features an 18-degree banked final corner which was designed with the intention of enabling the drivers to run at full-throttle for longer with the aid of DRS to help boost overtaking opportunities.

But the FIA has elected against allowing DRS through Turn 15, posing an additional overtaking challenge for the drivers around an already narrow track.

DRS can be activated after the banking at Turn 15 along the main straight, marking the second of two activation zones at Zandvoort.

The first detection point is at the entry at Turn 11, allowing a short blast of DRS use on the run to the Turn 12/13 chicane which filters into the final sequence of corners.

In Red Bull’s preview for his home race, Max Verstappen acknowledged that overtaking will prove difficult at Zandvoort and place a greater emphasis on the importance of qualifying.

“It will be special to have a race in the Netherlands in front of my home crowd but also as a driver it’s a good challenge to go to a new circuit and find the limit in an F1 car,” he said.

"It might be a little hard to overtake on but for single lap performance I think it’s going to be rewarding. The qualifying laps will be very quick there so any mistakes will be really costly.

"After the race was cancelled last year this year will be even more special and of course it would be amazing to win on another home circuit in front of the Orange Army.”