As part of an effort to make overtaking easier and races more fun, the Drag Reduction System was introduced in 2011, representing one of the biggest changes in Formula One history.
DRS allows F1 cars to open their rear wings at certain points on the track when they are less than a second behind the car in front. This reduces drag and gives the attacking car a short-term speed advantage.
Since its debut just over ten years ago, this invention has been a resounding success and has played a significant part in some of the most exciting F1 races of all time. Recently, however, it has been claimed that the system should be revised.
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Former F1 driver and Sky Sports analyst Martin Brundle has complained that DRS has been too strong in recent seasons and has recommended shortening the DRS zones around race tracks.
“You have to say the DRS by and large has been too strong this year hasn’t it,” said Brundle.
“Passes are made down the straight and they need to be made under braking.
“They need to put you in play to make the overtake not to actually just plain overtake. They need to shorten the distances, delay the activation.”
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The FIA’s head of single-seater racing, Nikolas Tombazis, has suggested that these changes could be made to the DRS system to reduce its effectiveness, so Brundle could get his wish as early as next season.
“We don’t want overtaking to be, as we say, inevitable or actually easy. It still has to be a fight.
“If it happens too quickly, if you see a car approaching and then going by and disappearing, it’s actually worse than being at the back and fighting.
“It needs the right balance to be found there.”
With the new cars, the impact of dirty air is less noticeable, and cars can now follow each other more closely than before the new restrictions took effect in early 2022.
On the contrary, this implies that when vehicles reach DRS zones, they are typically already far behind the vehicle in front and making overtaking much simpler than it should be.
The FIA has not yet made any announcements on DRS, including if any changes will be made in time for next season or whether it will be a long-term change while the FIA works to make F1 more entertaining and competitive.
Better idea. Full DRS and full distance between 2 and 1 second. Under 1 second full drs 50-60% distance. This would tighten the whole grid, but force drivers to actually fight for the overtake.