DRS zone extended for Spanish Grand Prix

2017 Spanish Grand Prix

Posted on

| Written by

Drivers will have a greater opportunity to benefit from the Drag Reduction System during the Spanish Grand Prix in a bid to improve overtaking.

The DRS zone on the start/finish straight has been extended by 100 metres following Friday’s running.

Drivers can use DRS at two points on the Circuit de Catalunya. The second DRS zone, which leads into turn ten, is unchanged.

The lengthening of the DRS zone will also have an effect on qualifying times as drivers will be able to open DRS earlier.

On Thursday Sebastian Vettel warned against making DRS too power. The championship leader said it risked making overtaking too easy.

Drivers have also been warned to use the run-off area at turns one and two correctly if they run wide.

Instructions given to the competitors ahead of Saturday’s running reads: “Any driver who fails to negotiate turn 2 by using the track, and who passes over one of the speed bumps across the run-off area, must then re-join the track by driving to the left of the bollard before the entry to turn 3.”

“Drivers are reminded that having left the track they must re-join safely.”

2017 Spanish Grand Prix

    Browse all Spanish Grand Prix articles

    Author information

    Keith Collantine
    Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

    Got a potential story, tip or enquiry? Find out more about RaceFans and contact us here.

    23 comments on “DRS zone extended for Spanish Grand Prix”

    1. Is this to guarantee that the “5s faster” target is met?

    2. *facepalm*

      1. My thoughts exactly.

    3. With these new regulations making races more intense (IMO) it seems F1 is afraid to ‘suffer’ through 2 races like we saw last time out. Even though I still consider it one of the most amusing battles for the lead in quite a while.

    4. I could’ve sworn I read an article recently saying that exactly this wasn’t going to happen…actually, just found the article and I suppose the wording doesn’t explicitly say they wouldn’t change the length of the zones.

    5. I know many people here including me don’t really like DRS, but I think it’s a good thing to have a slightly longer DRS zone here. This track used to be one of the few tracks where DRS is useful. Last year we saw a great battle for the lead because overtaking a slightly slower car was still quite hard (but maybe not impossible). This year it will be even harder to pass a slightly slower car, so let’s see if a 1-second DRS increase can make any difference.

      1. Agreed. If ever there was a year to extend it, it would be now.

      2. Have to agree. I’m not a huge fan of DRS either, but this circuit is one of the few circuits on the calendar where DRS could improve the racing. It’s quite a difficult track to overtake on or follow closely, and the DRS zone wasn’t particularly effective either.. so at least increasing it by a 100 metres should make the racing more interesting without having any fly by overtakes.

      3. completely agreed!

        it seems that in 2017, the DRS is not giving drivers the freeway passes we saw in previous years, but rather helps the car behind get a bit closer into the braking zone. Which is fine by me, as you still need to have lots of skill to get the pass done.

    6. I’m confused. Ross Brawn has been saying we need to get rid of the “artificial gimmicks”. And so what do they do, increase the efficacy of the artificial gimmicks.

      1. Sundar Srinivas Harish
        13th May 2017, 11:10

        One might even say that they made it too “power”. ;)

      2. It’s not Mr Brawn’s decision (during an F1 weekend).

      3. @Gary But what Brawn also said was that he would make changes in a non-knee-jerk way that would give the teams time to adapt to changes, sensibly redesigning their way out of something like DRS. I’m confident he’ll get F1 to the point of no DRS but the hard work will be in getting the teams off their addiction to so much downforce at the same time. And I think the tires will get softer too. In the spirit of aiming toward rules stability, he’ll implement changes in a way that will least risk the smaller teams floundering, unable to adapt as quickly.

    7. By the way, that white gum ball and black number on the front of the Ferrari looks fantastic. It’s so retro, reminds me of when I fell in love with “formula” cars, 1969.

      1. Indeed that my era too i love those cars !

      2. Had the same thought regarding the Ferrari numbers.

    8. Drs did not really work last year here, this year drs effect is less so this should re calibrate it to last year so think Kimi v Max. Still should of just left it ad was or just get rid of it. Overtaking is possible see Ricciardo dives from another postcode.

    9. Given that DRS was useless at last years Spanish GP and how it has been this year, it’s a good move. Otherwise we are in for another borefest like Russia. I think fans have forgotten that even Ferrari couldn’t get past the RBRs last year with DRS, a faster car and a more powerful engine.

      1. Interesting POV; cannot disagree more.
        It would have been a disgrace had VER lost last year only due to a longer DRS zone.

    10. “Get rid of the DRS!”
      “What’s that, you want more DRS?”
      “No!”
      “More DRS, it is.”

    11. This was necessary, but only for this track.

    12. I don’t get what you all dislike about DRS. A car gains a security be a lap for 10 laps, then can’t get passed!!! That’s not good raving, it allows the leader to get run slower to conserve his car… DRS IS GREAT AT IT ALLOWS A FATER DRIVER AND CAR TO OVERTAKE!!! if they have too much Drs he just gets the place back next lap…. what’s the problem?

    Comments are closed.