FIA shares circuit changes for US GP, DRS zones & more

The FIA shared the details of circuit changes, track limits, DRS zones and more for this weekend’s F1 US GP at Circuit of the Americas.

Neils Wittich is the FIA Race Director for the F1 US GP weekend at COTA with Eduardo Frietas missing this one after officiating in Japan last time around. The track limits is defined by the white lines around the circuit as is the style of Wittich to define.

In terms of changes at the circuit, there’s a lot done since last year especially laying of new asphalt around Turn 2 and Turn 15 – where only portion around Turn 11 hasn’t been touched. The run-off at Turn 6 and Turn 20 has been modified among other things.

Here’s the list of it:

• New asphalt from Turn 2 through to Turn 10.
• New Asphalt from Turn 12 through Turn 15.
• Run-off at Turn 6 on LHS modified to accommodate new grandstand.
• Run-off at Turn 20 modified to accommodate grandstand.
• Rumble strips installed at exit Turn 6 on RHS and at exit Turn 9.
• The orange bumps behind the kerbs have been removed at Turn 1, Turn 11, Turn 12, Turn 15, and Turn 20.

Moving on to the DRS zones, the first one’s detection point is 150m after Turn 10 and activation is at 250m after Turn 11. At the same time, the second one’s detection point is 65m after Turn 18 and activation at 80m after Turn 20.

As for the FIA stewards panel, Gary Connelly will lead them which includes Silvia Bellot, Enrique Bernoldi and Dennis Dean. Outside the US GP news, BBC reporter Andrew Benson updated on the ongoing cost cap breach discussions.

As per him, the FIA is in dialogue with Red Bull about the penalty. Additional reports suggests that the F1 team is set to host a press conference to answer the questions and barrage of ‘cheat’ messages that they have been getting.

The FIA has made an offer to Red Bull for the terms of an "accepted breach agreement" for them breaching the cost cap. Details, as with all issues on this matter, are confidential for now. Now Red Bull have to decide whether to accept or go before an adjudication panel

— Andrew Benson (@andrewbensonf1) October 20, 2022

Here’s the full FIA Race Directors’ note: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2022%20United%20States%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20Race%20Director’s%20Event%20Notes.pdf

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Here’s Zak Brown on letter to FIA about cost cap