The reduction of the DRS zone in Baku is causing controversy
For this Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the FIA has decided to reduce the DRS zone by 100 meters on the start straight. After a relatively uneventful race, several drivers have questioned this decision.
After the Sakhir, Jeddah, and Melbourne circuits, Baku also had the right to modify one of its DRS zones. Last week, the FIA announced that the DRS activation zone on the start/finish straight would be reduced by 100 meters. The governing body wanted to decrease the overtaking opportunities, as they deemed them too straightforward in the previous edition.
But this decision did not please all the parties. After a Grand Prix dominated by Red Bull, which was quite poor in terms of overtaking, several drivers complained about the reduction of the DRS zone. Several drivers have expressed their concerns, as overtaking had already become more difficult after the change in regulations this year.
A decision questioned before the weekend
For a long time, unable to overtake Carlos Sainz and stuck behind him, Lewis Hamilton did not hesitate to question this decision. The seven-time World Champion stated, “I don’t really know why they did that. We have always had good races with the DRS as it was. But here, when you opened the DRS, it was already too late.” Mercedes driver was joined by Logan Sargeant who said, “We are only reducing the DRS zones, but at the end of the straight, it makes an attack impossible.”
Lewis Hamilton was not the only one to have this reaction. Even before the race, some drivers had expressed doubts about this reduction of the DRS zone. Everyone questioned this decision at the drivers’ briefing, revealed Lando Norris. The doubts turned out to be true as there was a lack of action on this starting straight.
A decision even more incomprehensible for Kevin Magnussen or George Russell. Both drivers have claimed that the cars have become more difficult to overtake and to follow in general. With the evolution of the aerodynamics of the single-seaters, it would be necessary to go back to the old DRS zone or even enlarge it, the Haas driver had declared.
As a consequence of this race, Toto Wolff expressed his concerns after the race. It is a more overall criticism of the new cars that the team principal of Mercedes made: (e) We need to look into the matter to avoid boring races. » Regarding this shortened zone, Toto Wolff does not think that an additional 100 meters of DRS would have made a difference.
