21 April 2011 by Keith Collantine
Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, Shanghai, 2011
Three races into F1?s experiment with the controversial ?Drag Reduction Systems?, is it a success or a failure?
It may have increased overtaking, but has it done so in a way that?s to the detriment of the sport?
Or is any pass a good pass, as far as you?re concerned? Have your say on how DRS has changed Formula 1.
For
In races, drivers are allowed to activate their Drag Reduction Systems when they?re within one second of another car (including lapped cars). This helps them catch up to make an overtaking move.
In the first three races of the year we?ve seen several examples of the DRS working, such as Nick Heidfeld?s pass on Lewis Hamilton[1] in Sepang and Mark Webber?s on Jenson Button in Shanghai.
The rule aims to address the problem drivers have experienced trying to overtake in recent years.
Nico Rosberg[2] is a big fan of the way the adjustable rear wings are used in races, describing them as ?best idea ever probably? earlier this week[3].
Against
The chief complaint about DRS is that it gives one driver an advantage which the other driver does not have. It?s been likened to the FIA limiting the top speed of a leading car so that the car behind it can try to overtake.
F1 should be able to have exciting races without resorting to gimmicks which are fundamentally unsporting.
The system has also proved unreliable, with worrying implications. Fernando Alonso?s[4] DRS opened incorrectly during the Chinese Grand Prix. Failures such as this could cause a driver to lose control and crash, or improperly gain an advantage.
I say
I enjoy watching the technology of moveable rear wings in practice and qualifying, when all the drivers are free to use it when they choose. It gives us another way to appreciate what the driver is doing behind the wheel.
But the way the technology is used in races is clearly unfair ? something F1 fans picked up on when the rule was first announced last year[5].
We have seen more overtaking this year thanks to the new Pirelli tyres and the return of KERS. But DRS crosses a line.
It is an artificial device used to create unimpressive, ?slam-dunk? passes. It diminishes the spectacle instead of enhancing it.
The best wheel-to-wheel racing we?ve seen this year happened without DRS ? such as Alonso?s battle with Hamilton in Sepang and Hamilton?s passes on Jenson Button[6] and Sebastian Vettel in Shanghai.
These moves were enjoyable because they were genuine racing rather than an artificially engineered show.
You say
What do you think of how DRS is used in races?
Tick ALL the statements you agree with below to show your opinion ? and have your say in the comments.
Which of these statements about DRS do you AGREE with?
- DRS has made F1 races more exciting this year (142 Votes)
- DRS is the only thing that has made F1 races more exciting this year (1 Votes)
- F1 should try running some DRS-free races (116 Votes)
- F1 should try running some races with more than one DRS zone (103 Votes)
- DRS makes F1 races too artificial (67 Votes)
- The rules on using DRS in races are unfair (87 Votes)
- I do not agree with any of the statements above (9 Votes)
Total Voters: 281
Select all the answers you agree with.
You need an F1 Fanatic account to vote. Register an account here[7] or read more about registering here[8].
Debates and polls
References
- ^ Lewis Hamilton (www.f1fanatic.co.uk)
- ^ Nico Rosberg (www.f1fanatic.co.uk)
- ^ earlier this week (www.autosport.com)
- ^ Fernando Alonso (www.f1fanatic.co.uk)
- ^ F1 fans picked up on when the rule was first announced last year (www.f1fanatic.co.uk)
- ^ Jenson Button (www.f1fanatic.co.uk)
- ^ Register an account here (www.f1fanatic.co.uk)
- ^ read more about registering here (www.f1fanatic.co.uk)
- ^ Browse all debates and polls (www.f1fanatic.co.uk)
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