The Australian GP is scheduled to take place from March 31 to April 2 at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne – how many DRS zones are there in the circuit?
F1 has confirmed that there will be four DRS Zones at the Albert Park Circuit for this weekend’s race. The authorities had tried to implement it last year itself, but the plan was scrapped following the opening day of practice due to safety reasons. However, the technicalities have been sorted out now and the 2023 edition of the race will see four DRS zones in place.
A number of further modifications have been made to the track ahead of the first practice session on Friday. The most notable change is the removal of the old Turn 9/10 chicane. Besides this, the introduction of the fourth DRS zone could very well make this edition the fastest ever in the history of the Australian GP.
Australian Grand Prix chief Andrew Westacott claims: “It will be the fastest race in Melbourne ever. You’ve got the evolution of the cars from last year, and they’ve obviously got better, and the fourth DRS zone means the cars will be quicker around the back of the circuit.”
Melbourne extended its contract to host the Australian GP at least till 2035
The Australian Grand Prix will remain in Melbourne until 2035, following a deal earlier this year, to extend the race’s agreement beyond 2025 by a further 10 years. In addition, Formula 2 and Formula 3 will join the race weekend schedule for the first time from 2023.
The iconic Albert Park Circuit has hosted the Australian Grand Prix since 1996, with significant investment made over the past two years in order to improve the circuit, fan experience and facilities – while further improvements, including to the paddock and pit lane, are planned in order to continue the circuit’s modernisation.
The contract extension was finalised last year itself after a record-breaking 419,000-strong crowd at the 2022 Grand Prix – which happened to be the first one to take place Down Under since the pandemic.
It was the biggest-ever attendance for a Grand Prix in Melbourne and the biggest crowd at a Formula 1 weekend anywhere in the world in almost three decades, eclipsed only by the 520,000 people who attended Adelaide’s swan song race in 1995. A record-breaking crowd could be expected this weekend as well as the popularity of F1 continues to grow rapidly in Australia.
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