FIA shortens final DRS zone in Bahrain

The FIA has slightly shortened the main DRS zone for next weekend's season-opening race at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Drivers will have three DRS zones in total on race day help facilitate potential overtaking maneuvers.

The first DRS zone which starts just after Turn 3 and the second zone that begins at the exit of Turn 10 remain unchanged. But the longest stretch that runs along Bahrain's main straight has been shortened.

• Read also: Albert Park adds fourth DRS zone for 'fastest race ever"

The detection point for the final zone remains set just before Turn 14, but the activation point has now been shifted further along the track by a distance of 80 metres.

Previously, DRS was activated at the 170-meter marker after turn 15, the final corner of the lap. It is now 250-metres after the corner. The change was undertaken as the FIA believes that F1's new technical regulations – based on last year's race in Bahrain – have made overtaking easier.

F1 and the FIA have reviewed last season's races and overtaking activity and opted to tweak DRS zones at Jeddah, Melbourne, Baku and Miami by fine-tuning detection and activation points at the specific venues.

The addition of a fourth DRS zone at Albert Park will produce the fastest Australian Grand Prix on record in Melbourne according to the event's promoter Andrew Prestacott.

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