Drivers back double DRS zone
Formula 1 drivers have backed the decision by the FIA to experiment with two DRS zones at this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix - even if it proves to be a step too far
Although overtaking has never been too difficult in Montreal, the FIA has elected to try out having a zone out of the final hairpin and another along the start-finish straight.
There are fears that the two zones could make overtaking too easy, but leading drivers reckon that it is worth seeing what impact it makes so the FIA knows what is possible to do in the future.
Renault's Nick Heidfeld told AUTOSPORT: "You could argue that it is probably too much to have two DRS zones, but it is a good idea to at least try it once and then afterwards we will know.
"We might not go back to it, we might. I think one would have been enough - but why not try?"
Heikki Kovalainen added: "Rather than the hairpin being the main overtaking place like in past years, I think it will probably be into Turn 1 or probably the last chicane.
"I think there could be a significant difference compared to previous years. I am very interested to see how a double DRS zone works on back-to-back straights. I think it will be good.
"I think it is an area that the FIA should definitely explore and not be afraid of doing something, even if it sounds in theory a little bit crazy. Let's see what happens because it is a new thing and I don't think everyone understands fully, but here we have an ideal place to try it."
Jenson Button was one driver who said that while the double DRS zone would definitely help overtaking, it would not necessarily make the grand prix a better spectacle.
"I am not sure how the DRS is going to work here, because on the first DRS zone it should be easy to overtake," he said. "Then, as you exit the chicane across the start-finish line, you can DRS again so you pull away from the guy you have overtaken - and they cannot fight back.
"It is not like I thought it was going to be where we had two activation zones, it is just one activation zone at the hairpin. So you can use it all the way down the straight and use it out of the chicane. It is going to help the overtaking but I don't think it is going to help the racing."
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Author | Jonathan Noble |
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