Dutch GP: Zandvoort banking set for DRS test in FP1
Formula 1 will trial DRS on Zanvoort's banking in Friday's first practice at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Zandvoort's banked curve was a main feature of the revamped track when Formula 1 returned to the Netherlands last season after a 36-year absence.
In 2021, the FIA had initially elected to include the sweeping new 18-degree banked Arie Luyendyk Bocht in F1's second DRS zone in abid to boost overtaking on the main straight.
But for safety reasons, that plan was scrapped, and the activation point of the specific DRS zone was pushed back until after the banked corner.
However, Formula 1 will give its original idea another try in Friday's opening practice to try and improve overtaking opportunities on Zandvoort's main straight.
"The current position is that we are going to have the DRS ahead of the final corner, so early on, to improve a bit the racing in Zandvoort," Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA's Single-Seater Technical Director, told Viaplay.
"But we are keeping an open mind on that, and we will be asking teams for their feedback. We've asked them already in simulations, but also after FP1 we will be asking teams for their feedback.
"And if we feel that there is any, even a remote, risk for the safety than clearly we would have to take action and change it after FP1."
Pirelli F1 boss Mario Isola says the tyre supplier is prepared to deal with the extra load generated by F1's drag reduction system on Zandvoort's banking, but how DRS will impact levels of degradation remains unclear.
"Usually when you open the DRS you transfer the load on the front, so you load a lot more the front tyres compared to the rear tyres," Isola explained, quoted by Motorsport.com.
"Then we have to check the data after this test to understand if in this condition the rears are sliding, for example.
"We can have some surface overheating, for example, but it's a bit difficult at the moment to make a proper prediction."
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