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FIA shortens Baku DRS zone for F1 Azerbaijan GP

The FIA has reduced the effect of the DRS overtaking aid for Formula 1's Azerbaijan Grand Prix, shortening the activation zone on Baku's main straight by 100 metres.

Last year the second of two DRS activation points was drawn 347 metres past Turn 20, the final flat-out kink leading onto Baku's ultra-long main straight.

For 2023, the race director's circuit map shows the point has now been pushed back by 100 metres to 447m after Turn 20, in effect reducing the distance the drag reduction system can be used on the main straight.

The detection point remains in the same spot at the Turn 20 apex, and the first DRS zone coming out of Turn 2 has also been left unchanged.

Baku is the fourth of five F1 circuits to have undergone tweaks to the DRS zones to fine-tune the balance between improving the show and making overtaking too trivial.

Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Australia have also seen changes, with further tweaks coming in next week's Miami Grand Prix.

In Jeddah, the final activation point was moved to avoid dangerous antics in the final corner with drivers trying to let rivals past on purpose, while in Melbourne a fourth DRS zone was added to make overtaking more plausible on the twisty parkland circuit.

Source: Autosport

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