Fast Australian GP Predicted as Melbourne Gets Another DRS Zone

Formula One F1 - Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia - April 10, 2022 Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in action during the race. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia - April 10, 2022 Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in action during the race. (Reuters)
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Fast Australian GP Predicted as Melbourne Gets Another DRS Zone

Formula One F1 - Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia - April 10, 2022 Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in action during the race. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia - April 10, 2022 Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in action during the race. (Reuters)

Organizers are promising the fastest Australian Grand Prix ever after the addition of a fourth DRS zone at the Albert Park circuit for the third round of the Formula One season in early April.

The fourth zone - a first for a Formula One circuit - was introduced for last year's race on a newly upgraded track but removed by the governing FIA on safety grounds after the opening two practice sessions.

Australian Grand Prix chief Andrew Westacott told Melbourne's Herald Sun on Monday that he had "positive feedback from the FIA and Formula One that technically speaking a fourth DRS zone will be implemented".

The result, he told the newspaper, was that the cars could reach speeds of 340 km per hour (211 mph) around the Melbourne street track.

"It will be the fastest race in Melbourne ever," Westacott said.

"You've got the evolution of the cars from last year, and they've obviously got better, and the fourth DRS zone means the cars will be quicker around the back of the circuit."

"Which will obviously increase speed and therefore reduce lap time and make it the quickest Grand Prix and the highest average speed ever in Melbourne."

The drag reduction system (DRS), which allows drivers to adjust the rear wing of their cars in certain parts of the track to reduce aerodynamic drag, was introduced in Formula One in 2011 to better enable overtaking.

The Australian Grand Prix, once the season-opener, was cancelled for two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic and will take place this year on April 2, after the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races.

Charles Leclerc won last year's race from pole position for Ferrari.



Ivanov Beats American Qualifier Karki to Win Wimbledon Juniors Title

Ivan Ivanov of Bulgaria returns to Ronit Karki of the US in the boys' singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Ivan Ivanov of Bulgaria returns to Ronit Karki of the US in the boys' singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
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Ivanov Beats American Qualifier Karki to Win Wimbledon Juniors Title

Ivan Ivanov of Bulgaria returns to Ronit Karki of the US in the boys' singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Ivan Ivanov of Bulgaria returns to Ronit Karki of the US in the boys' singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)

Ivan Ivanov of Bulgaria won his first Grand Slam title by beating Ronit Karki of the United States 6-2, 6-3 in the Wimbledon juniors final on Sunday.

The 16-year-old Ivanov became the second Bulgarian to win the title after Gregor Dimitrov in 2008.

He never faced a break point against Karki and finished with 22 winners, compared to six for his opponent.

Karki was trying to become the first qualifier to win the title since Noah Rubin in 2014.