A third DRS zone has been added to Bahrain International Circuit for the second race of the 2019 Formula 1 season, the Bahrain Grand Prix.
As opposed to having two drag-reduction system (DRS) zones, which was the initial plan, Bahrain International Circuit is set to have three of them for the Bahrain Grand Prix. This race is the second race of the 21-race 2019 Formula 1 season, and it is scheduled to take place this Sunday, March 31.
The 15-turn, 3.363-mile (5.412-kilometer) Bahrain International Circuit road course in Sakhir, Bahrain is set to feature an additional DRS zone between turns three and four, and the detection zone for this DRS zone is set to be just before turn one.
Turn one marks the end of one of the other two DRS zones at the track. This DRS zone begins after turn 15, and the detection zone for it is slightly before turn 14. The track’s other DRS zone is between turns 10 and 11, and the detection zone for it is slightly before turn nine.
As usual, DRS will be enabled for drivers who are within one second of the driver in front of them upon reaching the DRS detection zones.
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Scuderia Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel is set to enter this year’s Bahrain Grand Prix as the two-time reigning winner of the race. Since he did not compete in the race in the 2016 season due to the fact that his Ferrari experienced an engine failure before it began, he has not competed in a race at Bahrain International Circuit and failed to win it since he finished in fifth place in the 2015 Bahrain Grand Prix during his first season driving for Ferrari.
The 31-year-old German also won the Bahrain Grand Prix in the 2011 and 2012 seasons when he still drove for Red Bull Racing. He is the race’s only four-time winner. After finishing in second place in the first practice session for tomorrow’s race behind teammate Charles Leclerc, he topped the speed chart in the second practice session by finishing just ahead of Leclerc in second, making Ferrari the early favorites to exit the weekend with a victory and perhaps a double podium or even a 1-2 finish.
ESPN2 is set to air the live broadcast of the Bahrain Grand Prix beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET this Sunday, March 31. Be sure not to miss the action of the second race of the 2019 Formula 1 season, as there should be quite a lot of it, especially with the addition of a third DRS zone at Bahrain International Circuit.