Single DRS zone in Brazil and track changes for 2012
2011 Brazilian Grand Prix
Nico Hülkenberg, Fernando Alonso, Interlagos, 2010
After double DRS zones in the last two races, a single zone will be used for the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend.
The zone will be placed on the Reta Oposta straight between Curva do Sol and Subida do Lago (turns three and four).
Race director Charlie Whiting said: “There will be one DRS zone on the back straight.
“We think this will be enough, as the main straight usually gives a good enough opportunity to overtake anyway, so we don’t want to make it too easy.”
Here’s a diagram of the DRS zone for the race:
DRS zone, 2011 Brazilian Grand Prix, Interlagos
Whiting added that some small changes would be made to the circuit this year but bigger revisions were planned for 2012:
“There are a couple of minor changes to the circuit but next year there could be something much bigger.
“We’re hoping to build a new pit entry and a larger run-off around the last corner, but this is a big job as it will require removing a couple of permanent grandstands. We’ve had assurances from the city of Sao Paulo that they’ll support this project.”
The circuit has seen more than one fatal accident this year, one of which occurred at the final corner, Curva do Cafe, which has limited run-off.
2011 Brazilian Grand Prix
- Sutil voted Driver of the Weekend for Brazil
- Vettel “definitely affected” by gearbox problem – Webber
- 2011 Brazilian Grand Prix: complete race weekend review
- Vote for Brazilian GP driver of the weekend
- Red Bull: Gearbox glitch hands win to Webber
- McLaren: Button wanted to pass Alonso without using DRS
- Massa makes 100 Ferrari starts but no podium
- Ferrari: Alonso slips back on medium tyres
- Mercedes: Two-stop strategy leaves Rosberg vulnerable
- Force India: Sutil equals best result of the year
Image © Williams/LAT
petebaldwin (@petebaldwin) said on 23rd November 2011, 13:31
It’s a real shame that they feel the need to use DRS on all tracks. When passing is possible without DRS, don’t use it. When passing is difficult, have 1 zone and when it’s virtually impossible, have 2.
We usually see great passes into turn one but I think it will be greatly reduced this year. If you pass into turn one, you’ll lose the place in the DRS zone just afterwards. You’re better off getting as close as possible in turn one and driving around the car in front in the DRS zone.
Potentially if the detection zone is before turn one, it might work but I doubt the FIA will go for that.
I’d argue that DRS has improved the show in some circumstances this year however at times it hasn’t and I think we may see one of the most boring races we’ve seen at Brazil in recent years due to DRS.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 23rd November 2011, 13:39
As the data published here yesterday showed, if they did that it would probably end up as an indictment of modern F1 track design, as those circuits have generally needed the most assistance from DRS this year.
tflb1 (@) said on 23rd November 2011, 20:04
I hope they don’t change the track. The deaths there were a result of the poor safety standards of the Brazilian series, not the circuit design.