A fourth DRS zone has been added at Singapore’s Marina Bay circuit in an effort to make passing easier in this weekend’s race.
The new zone has been added between turns 14 and 16. This section of track was revised last year, cutting four corners from the layout, due to construction work at the harbour front.The FIA considered adding the fourth DRS zone to the new section last year but decided not to after discussions with teams.
“All the drivers, we all requested it from the FIA,” said Lewis Hamilton at the time. “The FIA asked all the teams and there’s a couple of teams that turned it down.”
The zone was not originally added due to concerns over drivers tackling the flat-out left-hand kink of turn 15 with their rear wings open.
The section of track which features the new DRS zone has also been resurfaced for this year’s race. Other sections of track between turns three and nine and turns 10 and 12 also have fresh asphalt.
In addition to the new zone, the existing DRS zones at the exits of turns five, 13 and 19 have been retained. The home of the Singapore Grand Prix has become the second venue on the Formula 1 calendar to have four separate DRS zones. The other is the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne, home of the Australian Grand Prix.
Further revisions to the track layout are expected for the 2026 race when the construction work is complete.
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2024 Singapore Grand Prix
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Jere (@jerejj)
17th September 2024, 14:29
The left kink was never risky in the first place, given it’s only marginally tighter if at all, than the right-hander kink of T6 or the one on the Nurburgring back straight, etc., but not going for that section for its first edition was still somewhat understandable.
However, I’m happy FIA has had enough courage to add an activation zone there for this year’s edition.
Btw, I recall that the most recent info about the track configuration related to the construction work is that the floating stadium corners would return/another configuration appear no sooner than 2028.
BLS (@brightlampshade)
17th September 2024, 14:53
That’ll probably make that straight the prime overtaking spot, what with the DRS straight immediately before and only a slow “non-aero” corner in-between.
Tracks a total DRS fest now though
Jere (@jerejj)
17th September 2024, 15:06
T7 at the end of Raffles Boulevard section will still remain the making overtaking spot, not to mention overtaking into T16 still won’t be a foregone conclusion anyway, far from it, given the Marina Bay Circuit’s nature that has always been among the worst circuits for overtaking, so exaggerating reality is pointless.
BLS (@brightlampshade)
19th September 2024, 10:49
I can’t see the lengths of each DRS zone, but eyeballing it looks like about 1/3rd of the lap is DRS now.
Whoever has a good DRS is going to be loving life in Qualifying
Axel
17th September 2024, 15:13
I see the charm of a track which is difficult to overtake on is lost on the FIA. Everyone HATED that dull end to the race last year where the faster cars could not get past the slower leaders leading to a boring and sleep-inducing finish where you didn’t know the winner until halfway round the final lap.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
18th September 2024, 12:32
Before someone comes here, this post is clearly sarcastic, I agree it was a good race and that it’s important to have tracks where overtaking is hard.
Having said that, so far singapore has been the 2nd track in terms of overtaking difficulty, so I won’t complain overtaking will now be too easy until I see it.
lynn-m
17th September 2024, 15:47
Looking back to last year didn’t we actually see some good bits of racing & a few real overtakes on this section of track without the DRS gimmick?
They should perhaps just admit that they don’t want to see any real overtaking now and only want to see the easier moves created by DRS because they are ‘less risky’.
Why risk drivers having to throw one up the inside when they could just have an easier time by pressing buttons in FIA designated passing zones.
It’s all about quantity over quality now & I fear it’s just going to get even more so with the ridiculously convoluted 2026 DRS in all but name system.
Jere (@jerejj)
17th September 2024, 19:28
Not really. Only limited side-by-side action, with maybe two or three passes involving considerable car & or tyre delta.
MichaelN
17th September 2024, 16:35
Not even three years into this new era abs F1 is adding new and lengthening existing DRS zones. What a succes!
People fondly remember the Imola battles between Alonso and Schumacher decor there being no overtakes. Why is F1 so obsessed with making the fastest car win all the time?
MichaelN
17th September 2024, 16:36
Decor = despite. Not sure what Samsung was thinking there!
Nick T.
17th September 2024, 18:40
Samsung is getting big into home electronics as home decor. Simon has an unassuming piece of it in Jere’s living room actually.
Jere (@jerejj)
17th September 2024, 19:28
Nick T. Good one
Nick T.
17th September 2024, 23:44
Word salad, Jere!
Jere (@jerejj)
17th September 2024, 19:26
FIA has shortened quite a few activation zones following the 2022 season, though, & only over the most recent events, have they finally accepted reality.
Simply put, following is getting harder season by season until next season in any case, so extending or adding new zones is perfectly normal, which already happened for 2017, ’18, & ’19 seasons with the same natural evolution effect.
Nick T.
17th September 2024, 18:42
I have a feeling Singapore is going to be an absolute smash ‘n crash fest.
Jere (@jerejj)
18th September 2024, 7:00
Not necessarily, given how clean races generally are these days, even on street circuits.
Velocityboy (@velocityboy)
17th September 2024, 19:14
If they insist on having DRS and as many zones as possible, maybe they should limit the number of times it can be used. At least the driver would have to think before pushing the button.
Jere (@jerejj)
17th September 2024, 19:27
I’ve never been keen on such a rule, & with only one full season left for DRS, going for such would be pointless.
Nick T.
17th September 2024, 23:49
Instead of more DRS, just make everyone run 4 sets of softs for a minimum of 9 laps and a max of 11 follow by set of hard. I’ve put zero thought into why, but I’m sure something “radical” as the kids these 40 years ago say.
Scotty (@rockonscotty)
17th September 2024, 19:53
Why not just say 10 seconds a lap of DRS. Anywhere. Anytime. It would compliment the battery deployment and allow more strategic use.
Jere (@jerejj)
17th September 2024, 20:45
Unintended consequences & too little too late anymore.
Nick T.
17th September 2024, 23:50
Push to pass has finally come to Fraud 1!
Scotty (@rockonscotty)
18th September 2024, 12:34
We have had that for years with the “overtake availble” radio messages.