Ayumu Iwasa says “in a race situation it shouldn’t be so different” as the Turn 22-23 chicane has been slowed down at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
The Saudi Arabian track has undergone a multitude of changes such as Turn 22-23 being slowed down and the third DRS detection line being moved onto the pit straight.
The Japanese driver said when asked by insideF2: “I think that the corner is quite different. I think the minimum speed will be quite different to last year.”
Despite the turn being considerably tightened, Iwasa doesn’t think there will be a drastic difference through the chicane in the races compared to last season.
“For me, in a race situation it shouldn’t be so different (to last year). “Even last year with high speed the racing around Turn 22-23 was not so easy and there was a DRS zone after that.
Jeddah is home to a number of very long straights including the straight after the altered chicane. The Red Bull Junior it was tricky to pass last year and the circumstances will be akin to 2022.
“Still it was quite difficult to overtake so I think the speed will be different to last year but I think the situation could be quite similar.”
Iwasa scored points in both races last time out in Bahrain and will be looking to build on that this weekend, at a circuit he scored points at last year.
The 21-year-old sits sixth in the championship, ahead of his DAMS team mate Arthur Leclerc.
Image: Redbull Content Pool
