The new F1 is testing Albert Park Circuit modifications

the new era of Formula 1 will celebrate its third race this weekend. After checking in for the first time Bahrain and celebrate their second date at Saudi Arabiathe 2022 F1 season has come on Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne (Australia) with many doubts that still need to be clarified and some questions that seem clear that tend to be confirmed. But in addition, this will be done by putting to the test the remodeling of an iconic track, where located Grand Prix since 1996 and that is because of Covid-19 has not done so since 2019.

In these years, the Australian urban track has undergone a series of changes to increase the number of overtakes and chaos seen in this race. The same goal was pursued by the change in technical regulations that completely changed the aerodynamic concept of current cars, with the ability to follow each other more closely on the curves. The combination of these two factors should boost the fights that will be seen this weekend on the track. To that end, the Australian layout has undergone some slight variations, as in curve 1 (it is enlarged by 2.5 meters on the right side), at curve 7 (it is extended 3.5 meters to the right), making the formerly clear chicanes at points faster.

But without a doubt, the biggest change can be seen below. Previous became 9 and 10which previously formed a difficult chicane, is now missing to produce an almost straight zone, across the throttle, to enliven the third DRS zone, which goes from the exit of turn 8 to the new turn 9. Turns 9 and 10 (old 11 and 12) must also be at high speed to face the fourth DRS zone and thus reaches a curve 11 that is now wider to allow more overtake throughout braking. In turn, turn 13 is extended internally to increase the number of lines before the main finish straight, where the first double DRS zone will begin.

4 DRS zones

Exactly, the fact that this remodeled Albert Park Circuit has 4 DRS zones is one of the great new things and, in turn, one of the greatest unknowns. F1 wants this DRS double chance to create more chance for overtaking, and therefore more chance of long fights.

Howeverthe DRS detection line is located just before the first zone and the third, so the vehicle passing in the rear (within a second of another) at those points can use DRS in the first and second straight consecutive, and in the third and fourth zones consecutively. Thus, the car that passes in front, if it is reached in the first straight, may be more difficult to overtake its opponent.

ALBERT PARK, SA 2020:

ALBERT PARK, CHANGES IN 2021 (RED):

ALBERT PARK, IN 2022 (4 DRS ZONES):

PHOTOS BY ALBERT PARK: