Fastest ever track at this years Grand Prix™
Wednesday, 22 February 2023
World-first additional DRS zone will make 2023 the fastest Grand Prix™ ever.
Want fast? The FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2023 just got even faster, with the introduction of a fourth Drag Reduction System (DRS) zone for the Albert Park Grand Prix circuit confirmed by the Formula 1® Commission after a meeting in London on Tuesday night (AEDT).
Since DRS came into F1® in 2011, Albert Park has featured three designated zones; at last year's Melbourne race following extensive circuit amendments since 2019, those zones were between Turns 14 (the final corner of the track) and Turn 1, from Turn 2 to Turn 3, and from Turn 10 to Turn 11.
For 2023, a fourth DRS zone – from Turns 8-9 – will feature for the entire weekend after being used only in the two Friday practice sessions in 2022. No other circuit on the calendar features more than three DRS zones.
Top speeds could reach 340km/h at the 5.278km circuit, while Australian Grand Prix chief executive officer Andrew Westacott says this year's 26th world championship Grand Prix at Albert Park will be "the fastest race in Melbourne ever".
"You've got the evolution of the cars from last year, they've obviously got better, and the fourth DRS zone means the cars will be quicker around the back of the circuit," Westacott told Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper.
Other circuits to undergo DRS changes this year in an attempt to encourage more overtaking are Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan and Miami. In addition, Azerbaijan and Miami will be completely resurfaced ahead of their 2023 races, while the Saudi Arabia circuit layout will undergo some minor changes to improve visibility on corner entry.
The Formula 1® Commission is a working group made up of representatives of teams and engine suppliers to discuss sporting, financial and technical matters in F1®, and is chaired by Stefano Domenicali, Formula 1® President and CEO, and Nikolas Tombazis, FIA Single-Seater Director.
