Sebastian Vettel fears the use of DRS could split the F1 grid more. Renault's Nico Hulkenberg said Vettel's fear is "probably true".

Scuderia Ferrari German driver Sebastian Vettel fears the use of DRS through the fast opening corners at Silverstone could split the Formula 1 grid more at the British Grand Prix.

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 said Vettel’s fear is “probably true”.

“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.”