Two DRS zones in Valencia

As in Montreal two weeks ago, there will be two possible zones for using the Drag Reduction System (DRS) rear wing. But just like on the Gilles Villeneuve circuit, there will be only one detection zone.

This one, located 130 meters from turn #8, that is just before the braking that dictates the change of direction towards the bridge, will therefore be used to determine the use of the DRS between turns 10 and 12, an area consisting of a left curve and a long straight line, and between turns 14 and 17, also consisting of a left curve and a smaller straight line.

If it seems interesting, on a circuit where overtaking is not easy, to multiply the possibilities of activating this aid, some drivers like Jenson Button, who made an impressive comeback notably thanks to the DRS, are more reserved. “It is a circuit where overtaking is difficult and even if there will again be 2 zones for the DRS, I don’t think overtaking will be that easy during the race,” the British driver points out.

For others, like the Lotus Renault GP team, the presence of these two zones is a boon as the team heads to Valencia with a new DRS system. “We will have a new rear wing whose upper part should provide greater efficiency for the DRS. This should improve our qualifying times and allow for more overtaking during the race,” said James Allison, technical director of the team.

However, it is possible to question the suitability of such a system: indeed, if a driver manages to gain an advantage using this trick between turns 10 and 12, nothing will prevent them from using the DRS in the second zone of the track to distance the opponent they just overtook and prevent them from being close enough on the next lap to activate this system in turn. Indirectly, therefore, this system meant to promote overtaking poses the risk of making any maneuver impossible for the driver who moves into the position of the chaser. During the Canadian round, this was notably observed when Jenson Button and Mark Webber overtook Michael Schumacher before the chicane and then reused their DRS on the straight to distance the Mercedes.