Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

The pre-race tweak that hampered Hamilton's British GP

Formula 1
British GP
The pre-race tweak that hampered Hamilton's British GP

MotoGP 2027 grid: All confirmed rider signings

MotoGP
MotoGP 2027 grid: All confirmed rider signings

Should the British GP ending cause a change in F1 safety car rules?

Formula 1
British GP
Should the British GP ending cause a change in F1 safety car rules?

How Lola has revived a sportscar icon in a more sustainable form

Feature
National
How Lola has revived a sportscar icon in a more sustainable form

Why Vasseur doesn't want to talk about a Ferrari title fight

Formula 1
British GP
Why Vasseur doesn't want to talk about a Ferrari title fight

DS Penske celebrates 150th start in Formula E

Formula E
Shanghai ePrix II
DS Penske celebrates 150th start in Formula E

Red Bull investigates Verstappen’s rear wing failure, “all options open” for Spa

Formula 1
British GP
Red Bull investigates Verstappen’s rear wing failure, “all options open” for Spa

How F1's current aerodynamic battlegrounds are shaping up - and what's next in 2027

Feature
Formula 1
British GP
How F1's current aerodynamic battlegrounds are shaping up - and what's next in 2027

DRS tipped to work better in Malaysia

Formula 1's moveable rear wing will become a more effective tool in Malaysia than it proved to be at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix

That is the view of Mark Webber, who believes the characteristics of the Sepang circuit are perfectly suited for making the 'Drag Reduction System' (DRS) more effective.

The FIA confirmed on Thursday that the DRS detection zone, where drivers must be within one second of the rival ahead of them to get the wing activated, will be situated 207 metres before the final corner at Sepang.

The DRS activation zone, where drivers can use the rear wing for a straight-line speed boost, will start just five metres after the final corner and run for the entire length of the start-finish straight.

Webber said that he had expected more from the wing in Australia, but is in no doubt how much better it will be in Malaysia.

"I got pretty close to Fernando [Alonso] a few times [in Australia] and only once with Lewis on lap three," he said. "Fernando was someone I expected to put more pressure on.

"But it was a characteristic of the corner onto the start-finish - it was too quick. And the entry to Turn 1, even if you got close, it was easy for the guy to manipulate the line for you, and give you a different trajectory into the corner.

"Here will be a completely different story - if you are within the zone on the Apex of Turn 15.

"If it doesn't work here I don't know where it will work. You have a slow corner to open the lap, a slow corner at the braking point, and Heathrow airport in between as well in terms of options, so it should work."

Previous article Webber confident of no Australia repeat
Next article Q & A with Paul di Resta

Top Comments