The FIA has shortened one of the three DRS zones at the Bahrain International Circuit for this year’s season-opening grand prix.
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The first DRS zone between turns three and four and the second zone on the straight between turns ten and eleven remain unchanged. The longest DRS zone on the pit straight, however, has been reduced: its activation point has been moved 80 metres further from the final corner.
Previously the activation point was located 170m after turn 15, the circuit’s final corner. It is now set at 250m after that corner, still before the pit lane entry. This reduction suggests the FIA believes the updated technical regulations have made overtaking easier at the track.
The FIA and Formula 1 have already announced adjustments to DRS zones for the next four grands prix at Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Albert Park in Melbourne, Baku and Miami. The objective is to make overtaking more or less difficult at specific venues based on last year’s races by altering detection and activation zone positions. In Melbourne, for example, a fourth DRS zone will be reintroduced.
Aside from updating the DRS activation point on the pit straight, there are no major configuration changes to the Bahrain circuit. Teams have already used the venue for pre-season testing. The same DRS zone layout will be applied for the Formula 2 and Formula 3 support races at the track.
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