What does DRS mean in F1?
Formula 1 drivers are always using DRS to get ahead of the game – but what does it actually mean?
DRS has become a common point of contention in F1 over the years, but what does it entail?
What makes motor racing such an exciting sport for the spectator? Lots of things if we’re being honest, but wheel-to-wheel racing and overtaking would be a commonly selected answer. No-one wants to see processional Grands Prix where the result is essentially a rehash of qualifying. Some of the sport’s finest moments have come from daring overtakes where drivers put their cars and bodies on the line for extra points.
In order to increase the number of overtakes during a race, the system was launched in 2011 and has received mixed reviews ever since. Supporters say racing is more exiting and unpredictable as a result while critics believe the system provides “artificial” excitement.
RadioTimes.com will explain what exactly DRS is and how it works in F1 to help you get to grips with one of the common pieces of jargon.
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What does DRS stand for?
DRS stands for Drag Reduction System - a system that was introduced to the sport back in 2011 in order to promote overtaking.
It acts like a boost or an aid for drivers to safely overtake a competitor when they are close by.
The system can only be used in specially designated DRS activation zones (usually one or two zones per race) and is only used when a driver is within one second of the car in front.
To activate the system, the driver simply pushes a button which opens up a section of the rear wing, which reduces aerodynamic drag and increases the straight-line speed of the car.
This makes it possible for the driver to quickly make up ground on the car just in front of them at a faster pace than normal thus allowing them to overtake, while the car in front is not allowed to use DRS, unless they themselves have an interval of less than a second to the car in front of them.
DRS is the only part of the car's body that can be adjusted in the middle of a race, as per regulations brought in in 2013.
There are a few other restrictions on the use of DRS in Formula 1, including that it cannot be activated on the first two laps after the race start, while there are some situations where the race director may decide to disallow its use for a specific race if conditions are judged to be unsafe.
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