Drag reduction system

Rationale

In most higher-performance racing categories, the cars depend on the downforce produced by their aerodynamic bodywork to increase cornering speeds. However, the aerodynamic bodywork, particularly wings, has the side effect of producing turbulence in the region behind the vehicle. The following car's front wing will work less effectively in the turbulent airflow, meaning that the following car's cornering performance is compromised.

By contrast, in circuit racing categories where downforce is less of a factor (for example, NASCAR), the following car has an aerodynamic advantage, because of the aerodynamic drag reduction from drafting and little or no effect on cornering performance.

The net effect is to make overtaking much more difficult, and thus infrequent, in categories with high levels of downforce, making the sport less interesting to spectators.

Formula One

In Formula One, the DRS opened an adjustable flap on the rear wing of the car, in order to reduce drag, thus giving a pursuing car an overtaking advantage over the car in front. The FIA estimate the speed increase to be 10-12 kph by the end of the activation zone, while others, such as technical staff at racecar-engineering.com,{{cite web |access-date=5 October 2023}} cite a much lower figure of 4-5 kph. When the DRS is deactivated or closed, it increases downforce, giving better cornering.

Between and , the device could only be used during a race after two racing laps had been completed, and when the pursuing car entered a designated "activation" zone defined by the FIA. This also included having to wait 2 laps after a safety car restart. In the rule was changed and now the device can be used during a race after only one racing lap after the race start or a safety car restart has been completed.

In , the FIA increased the number of DRS zones to two on some circuits featuring multiple long straights. In Valencia and in Montreal, two zones were endorsed on consecutive long straights, while in Monza and in Buddh, two zones were created on separate parts of the circuit. Two zones had originally been planned for every race with multiple long straights from Montreal onwards (depending on Montreal/Valencia success), but this was not implemented. However, at the penultimate round of the 2011 season, two zones on consecutive long straights saw a return at Yas Marina.

When usage of the DRS remained legal for the season, a second zone was added to the opening round's track in Melbourne. A third DRS zone was added during and seasons in Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Austria, Singapore, and Mexico. In the season, a fourth zone was initially added for the track in Melbourne, after the circuit redevelopment, before being removed for safety reasons. In the season the zone was re-added. Bahrain, Jeddah, Melbourne, Baku and Miami had their DRS zones adjusted based on whether the FIA deemed DRS made overtaking at these five circuits too easy or too hard in 2022. A fourth DRS zone was added in Singapore in .

DRS is set to be made obsolete in the season, being replaced with an "active aerodynamics" system.

Functional description

The horizontal elements of the rear wing consist of the main plane and the flap. The DRS allows the flap to lift a maximum of 85 mm from the fixed main plane. This reduces drag from the wing and results in less downforce. In a straight line, where downforce isn't needed, it allows for faster acceleration and potential top speed, unless limited by the mechanical limits of the engine and transmission. Sam Michael, former sporting director of the McLaren team, believes that DRS in qualifying will be worth about half a second per lap.

The effectiveness of the DRS will vary from track to track and, to a lesser extent, from car to car. The system's effectiveness was reviewed in 2011 to see if overtaking could be made easier, but not to the extent that driver skill is sidelined. The effectiveness of DRS seems likely to be determined by the level of downforce at a given circuit (where the cars are in low drag trim at circuits like Monza, the effects may be smaller), length of the activation zone, and characteristics of the track immediately after the DRS zone.

Rules on use

Use of DRS is restricted by the F1 rules; it is permitted only when both:

• The following car is within one second of the car to be overtaken, which may be a car being lapped. The FIA may alter this parameter, race by race.
• The following car is in an overtaking zone as defined by the FIA before the race (commonly known as the DRS zone).

Further:

• The system may not be activated until the end of one lap (from 2024) after the race start, restart, or a safety car deployment. An example was the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, during which no driver could have activated DRS because the entire race took place behind a safety car, before being terminated due to bad weather.
• The system cannot be used by the defending driver, unless within one second of another car in front.
• The system may not be enabled if racing conditions are deemed dangerous by the race director, such as rain, as was the case at the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix.

A dashboard light notifies the driver when the system is enabled (the driver can also see the system deploy in their wing mirrors). The system is deactivated when the driver releases the button or uses the brakes.

There are lines on the track to show the area where the one-second proximity is being detected (the detection point) and a line later on the track (the activation point), along with a sign vertically marked "DRS" where the DRS zone itself begins.

Reception

There has been a mixed reaction to the introduction of DRS in Formula One amongst both fans and drivers. Some believe that this is the solution to the lack of overtaking in F1 in recent years while others believe this has made overtaking too easy. Former Formula One and Team Penske IndyCar Series driver Juan Pablo Montoya described it as "like giving Picasso Photoshop". The principal argument for the opponents of DRS is that the driver in front does not have an equal chance of defending their position because they are not allowed to deploy DRS to defend. The tightening up on the rules for a leading driver defending their position has added to this controversy. In 2018, then-Scuderia Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel stated that he preferred throwing bananas Mario Kart-style over the use of DRS, arguing that it's "artificial".

Road car use

The McLaren P1 coupé is the first road car to have incorporated the F1-style rear wing Drag Reduction Systems. McLaren Senna GTR and Porsche 911 (992) GT3 RS later followed suit by the introduction of the same system in 2019 and 2022 respectively.

References

References

1. (8 March 2011). "2011 F1 Technical Regulations, Section 3.18".
2. [http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/24/new-formula-renault-3-5-racer-unveiled-at-silverstone/ New Formula Renault 3.5 racer unveiled at Silverstone] – Autoblog, 24 August 2011
3. [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/107426 DTM's DRS system will be limited at Brands Hatch – Mattias Ekstrom] – Autosport, 14 May 2013
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5. "TECH TUESDAY: How the rear wing of the 2022 car has been designed to be an F1 gamechanger {{!}} Formula 1®".
6. (2008-12-05). "How NASCAR Drafting Works".
7. (25 November 2020). "What is Formula 1 DRS?".
8. (2024-02-05). "New F1 sprint format + DRS and engine limit tweaks announced".
9. (20 May 2011). "Two race DRS zones from Montreal onwards". Adam Cooper's F1 Blog.
10. Luke Smith (21 May 2018).[https://www.crash.net/f1/news/891975/1/third-drs-zone-added-australian-gp *Third DRS zone added for F1 Australian GP at Albert Park"]. ''Crash.net''.
11. (9 April 2022). "FIA removes one F1 DRS zone at Albert Park on safety grounds".
12. (20 February 2023). "Melbourne ci riprova: "Quattro zone DRS"".
13. (21 February 2023). "2023 FIA Formula One World Championship Formula 1 Commission meeting 21.02.23". [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile]].
14. (17 September 2024). "A new fourth DRS zone in Singapore".
15. Noble, Jonathan. (6 June 2024). "How F1's new active aero will work in 2026".
16. "BBC Sport - Is DRS making overtaking too easy?". BBC Sport.
17. [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/113650 Juan Pablo Montoya reckons DRS has made Formula 1 less challenging] – Autosport, 26 April 2014
18. [http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.nsf/2E91C936598568EEC1257870003A2BAC/$FILE/1-2011%20SPORTING%20REGULATIONS%2008-03-2011.pdf "F1 2011 Sporting Regulations"]
19. [https://www.topgear.com/car-news/formula-one/vettel-throwing-bananas-cockpit-more-fun-drs Vettel: ‘throwing bananas’ from cockpit ‘more fun’ than DRS]
20. Lloyd, Harrison. (2023-08-08). "DRS In Formula 1: How, Why, And When Is It Used?".
21. (27 September 2012). "Officially Official: the new McLaren P1".
22. "Downforce Update".