Vettel Unsure of Extra DRS Zone at Silverstone

Sebastian Vettel believes that using the DRS through the fast opening corners at Silverstone could split the F1 grid.

The FIA has added a third DRS zone that is active from the start-finish straight through to the end of the fast right-left Abbey and Farm sequence.

Abbey is a tricky right-hander without DRS and the loss of rear downforce will make the cars even less stable.

Vettel said he found it “a bit confusing” and is “not sure what the intent is”.

“It’s a bit tricky,” he said. “I don’t know if we can do it with DRS open or not. We have to try, with the [new] asphalt, [grippier] tyres and so on.

“If anybody is likely to do it then it’s us, as in the big teams with most of the downforce.

“So, I don’t know if that was the intention to split the grid even more.

“I’m sure other people have less downforce than us, so they will probably struggle more.”

Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg agreed with Vettel’s fear.

“The top three teams, they’re in their own world anyway, so it’s not that it will change a bit in my life,” he said.

“I doubt it [Renault can take it flat with DRS] to be honest. It depends on the car, it depends on how much grip that new surface has, on the wing level you run.”

Red Bull has been dubbed as the most likely to take the turns flat with DRS activated.

Max Verstappen said that he will definitely try it but will be wary of the extra load on the rear tyres.

Ricciardo said: “It’s a pretty short, sharp apex. You’ve just got to try and not turn in too sharp, try and talk to the car, try and tell the car that it’s turning in without DRS instead of surprising it.

“If we can do it, that will be an advantage because I don’t think everyone’s going to be able to.

“But if we are going through there sideways and scrubbing off speed and killing the tyres then it might be slower.”