Following the announcement that this season’s Australian Grand Prix will be the “fastest race in Melbourne ever”, fans have jumped to criticise the plans put in place to make the event as fast as it’s being made out to be, following several safety concerns.
It was announced that a fourth DRS zone will be implemented at Albert Park this season, with it to be situated after Turn Eight.
A DRS zone featured there last season during FP1 and FP2; however, it was then removed ahead of FP3.
For 2023, though, it’s been reintroduced, with speeds of 205mph expected to be seen by the fans in attendance.
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“It will be the fastest race in Melbourne ever,” Australian Grand Prix organising chief Andrew Westacott told the city’s Herald Sun newspaper.
“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.
“That will obviously increase speed and therefore reduce lap time and make it the quickest Grand Prix and the highest average speed ever in Melbourne.”
The event’s organisers are hopeful that the fourth DRS section will be granted approval by F1 and the FIA; however, several fans are hoping that the section is once again rejected.
Aerospace engineering graduate Bryson Sullivan believes a fourth DRS zone will be “objectively unsafe”, with many having shared similar views following the announcement.
“Adding a fourth DRS zone before the high-speed chicane in Melbourne is objectively unsafe, I hope the organisers reconsider their decision,” wrote Sullivan on Twitter.
“Turns 9 and 10 are extremely high speed with the cars heavily loaded, wheel-to-wheel contact at this part of the circuit would very likely result in an airplane crash,” he added.
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One user in particular questioned why the sport are adding more DRS zones in general, given that the new aerodynamic regulations were partly introduced to allow for more overtaking without the use of DRS.
“Absolutely! Furthermore, the new rules were designed to allow drivers to follow each other more closely and reduce DRS zones rather than increase them,” said Gamal Liranzo Tavarez.