Formula 1: How Las Vegas combines the best of F1 tracks
By Ian Higgins
Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix features: No. 2 – Consecutive DRS zones
Inspiration: Jeddah
After adding a third DRS zone for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for 2022 and one-upping that effort with four in Melbourne for the upcoming Australian Grand Prix, the most recent trend in Formula 1 track design has been trying to stuff as many DRS zones together as possible.
With each zone typically being broken by a challenging high-speed handling section, we can look at the Las Vegas track layout and make a conservative estimation of the locations of these DRS zones.
Coming out of an initial switchback and a sweeping corner exit is a long run down to turn five. This wide piece of road leads down into an Azerbaijan-esque 90-degree right-hander and would be nearly identical in nature to Baku’s second DRS zone.
Following a middle sector of high-speed swoops is one of the longest straights on the calendar, only broken from the start-finish straight by a high-speed chicane.
The final two DRS zones will be on these straights as a one-two punch, encouraging side by side racing into the hairpin of turn one. Following positive trends in recent seasons, the already high-speed circuit will be accentuated with these well-placed DRS zones.