Christian Horner makes MotoGP claim ahead of Australian Grand Prix

Christian Horner has suggested that the amount of DRS zones around the Albert Park circuit could mean we’re in for a MotoGP-like race on Sunday for the Australian Grand Prix.

Formula 1 has been unable to race in Australia since 2019 thanks to the pandemic postponing the last two races, but the sport has returned and many are excited about that.

A new layout has been introduced to the circuit, too, with a much faster section in sector two that has reduced the lap-time around the track by about 10 seconds.

Certainly, it looks mega quick and it’s going to be exciting seeing the drivers fight it out for position over the 58 laps of the Grand Prix, with Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner saying we could see multiple overtakes lap after lap, in part thanks to the unprecedented 4 DRS zones that are set to be introduced.

Indeed, Horner said it could parallel the chopping and changing of a MotoGP race this weekend:

“Four zones, it’s pretty much the whole lap behind. Now what you don’t want the DRS to do is to be too easy so it is just a cruise past,” he said to Sky Sports.

“The DRS should enable you to get more of a slipstream effect, it should be a run but not just cruising past either side. So, the distances of these DRS zones are going to be quite interesting to see.

“It could be like a MotoGP race where you could be changing two or three times a lap. Wait till Sunday, reserve your judgement, but it depends on the length of those zones. If it’s just too easy to overtake then that’s not good.”

It’s certainly going to be interesting seeing how four DRS zones change the dynamic of the racing, especially after what we saw in Saudi, and the hope has to be we’ve not gone too far and removed the art and skill that is required