Turn 16 exit, Miami International Autodrome, 2022

DRS zones altered ahead of first track running at Miami

2022 Miami Grand Prix

Posted on

| Written by

Formula 1 has revised the three DRS zones which will be used for this weekend’s inaugural Miami Grand Prix.

Each zone on the 5.4-kilometre Miami International Autodrome has its own detection point. Since the original zones were defined yesterday the positions of those points have been slightly altered, and one activation zone has also been extended.

The first detection point is positioned 83 metres after turn eight, which is seven metres earlier than originally planned. This zone has been extended by 37 metres, as drivers can activate DRS 30 metres after turn nine. This forms part of a long, high-speed section through turn 10, leading to a potential overtaking spot at turn 11.

The second DRS detection point follows at the end of sector two, 70 metres after turn 16, three metres earlier than before. The activation point, 450 metres after that corner, is unchanged

The final detection zone is at the opposite end of that straight, 15 metres after turn 17, which is a sharp left-hand hairpin. That detection point is four metres earlier than before but its activation point, at the apex of turn 19 at the end of the lap, is unchanged.

Three DRS zones has been typical of the venues F1 has visited so far this season. Only one track, Imola, had fewer. Albert Park initially boasted four, but that was cut to three following the first day of running.

The speed trap for Miami International Autodrome has been places 200m before turn 17, at the end of the long back straight and in theory when drivers should be at absolute maximum speed, despite the proximity of the walls.

Miami International Autodrome, 2021
Miami International Autodrome, 2021

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

2022 Miami Grand Prix

Browse all 2022 Miami Grand Prix articles

Author information

Hazel Southwell
Hazel is a motorsport and automotive journalist with a particular interest in hybrid systems, electrification, batteries and new fuel technologies....

Got a potential story, tip or enquiry? Find out more about RaceFans and contact us here.

15 comments on “DRS zones altered ahead of first track running at Miami”

  1. Sigh. 3 is overkill. Why attempt an overtake anywhere else?

    1. Essentially the only viable overtaking opportunities anyway.

    2. 3 is indeed extreme overkill.

  2. Yawn. This track looks like it barely needs one. At least they are pushing the activation points further along the straights – but without testing them out, presumably they are in the dark about the effect of this. This is one of the key problems with DRS – it’s either way too effective or ineffective.

    1. @frood19 Impossible to know the effectiveness beforehand for an all-new track.
      Zone lengths are generally okay, so I’m sure these ones will too.
      DRS isn’t necessarily only ever either over or ineffective. Something between is also possible.

  3. They may as well just bqn overtaking without it because they keep ensuring that the only passes you get are created by DRS now.

    And when you have these long straghts with DRS on all of them it just basically guarantees that the only passing your getting is the boring push of a button terribleness.

    But in the quantity over quality world F1 has become i doubt Liberty care about the actual quality of the racing as long as they get to pad the stat books.

    Sebastian Vettel said i think it was yesterday that F1 should not become reliant on DRS. They should listen to him.

  4. Back to back DRS between turn 16 – 17 and 19 – 1. Drivers won’t mind getting overtaken on the 16-17 straight knowing that they will probably get it back by Turn 1.

    1. @sumedh Not necessarily, given how short the S/F straight is.

  5. I truly don’t like to complain, however would it have been a big ask to put the DRS zones on the map graphic?

    1. @cairnsfella, I assume this is because FIA still doesn’t have the detection & activation points marked on their official track map.

      1. Fair enough, though I’d have been happy with “estimated DRS zones”. Better than the scrolling back and forth comparing the text description to the map.

  6. These zone location choices were effectively certain from the get-go.
    The S/F straight zone should begin at the corner exit, though.
    I hope activation through the slight-ish but not super slight last corner won’t cause a rear loss at speed.

  7. The zones aren’t that bad, but they could’ve shortened them by some 100m between T9&11, likewise on the long back straight.
    I just hope won’t see cars getting DRS-ed 300m before the braking zone of T17.

  8. I feel surely the powers that be should give the circuit a chance to see how effectively these new cars can pass before including three DRS zones from the off. Maybe they could have gone just for one to start with and then have a second or third next year.

    If they have faith in the layout of the new circuit and the changes they have made to the cars then they ought to see how these perform in tandem to start with. I expect though they were scared by the prospect of a boring race, with little overtaking on their new shiny, sparkly circuit in the U.S.A.

  9. Martin Elliott
    5th May 2022, 17:48

    WHY were the locations reviewed and by what FIA officials?

    WHAT is the reason for each move? Dynamics, or just a telemetry issue?

Comments are closed.