F1 Fanatic

Okay, so after today’s race, we got our first real impressions of the DRS and how well it works. This thread is for discussing the effectiveness of it (though I suspect Keith will have an article up about this within the next few days).

Given the reception the DRS has had, it was always going to be a case of fans criticising the system. If there was a lot of passing, the fans would shout “it makes overtaking too easy!”; if there wasn’t much at all, the fans would cry “it doesn’t do anything at all!”. There was never going to be a point where anyone believed the DRS provided jsut the right amount of overtaking.

After the Australian Grand Prix, I think the DRS did not produce as much overtaking as thought or hoped. But that’s not to say it is entirely without merit. From what we saw both today and late on Friday when the FIA requested the drivers run a DRS simulation, the adjustable flap clearly does not guarantee a pass. It aids the driver in getting to a point where he can get around the car in front, but since the cars are not simply sailing by and because the driver largely gets involved in a braking duel into the next corner, I think the concept has exactly the right balance. It’s doing exactly what I hoped it would do: offer a driver a chance at passing without making it too easy for him.

However, the original concept of the DRS has the drivers using it in the space of six hundred metres. And in this respect, I think it has largely failed. The main straight at Albert Park is eight hundred and sixty seven metres long, and drivers were failing in their passing more often than succeeding. So the DRS zone is going to have to be changed. I would not be surprised if both straights at Sepang are declared DRS zones for the sake of producing a lot of overtaking and getting data at the opposite end of the spectrum and then finding a happy medium between the two from Shanghai onwards.

And so it’s over to you. There are three things that I would like you to answer in replying to this thread:

1 -> Was the Drag Reduction System a success or failure?

2 -> How could it be changed or improved for future races?

3 -> Where should the lines for the activation zone on each circuit be?

Its hard to judge it to be honest. It wasnt a great sucess, as Button couldnt pass Massa at the beginning there, but it did provide overtaking later on for other drivers.

One of the issues that appeared today was the poitioning of it. Is it the stewards or race control that descide where it starts and ends?

How can it improve? correct placement inorder to get the most from it. In Malaysia i agree that it should use both straights, unless theres a ruling on the distance its allowed to cover?

@ PM, thanks for clearing that up and i agree, the drivers should have some good influence on where it goes. I think it will take a few races to see how it goes. Im not won over yet, but im happy to allow F1 to prove/disprove the DRS works.

1. I think it works properly. not too well, not too bad. just as much as we need. I don’t think “Push to Pass” is objective of DRS but prevent some situation like Abu Dhabi, which faster car couldn’t pass slower car. We saw similar case this weekend such as Button behind Massa, and it works well. I’m pleased.

2. Melbourne has short straight. we have to see how it works on Malaysia which has very long straight line. I partitialy agree with Webber who suggest DRS should be allowed during the race.

3. probably the longest straight of the circuit, right? but sometimes home straight is not the longest, so we have to consider it. for example, Korea has one of the longest straight but it’s not home straight and even hasn’t any seat around it. so even if it’s so effective almost everyone couldn’t see on eyes. DRS zone of Sepang is not home straight. we should see what will be happen and how audience react.

With all the hype about DRS and Kers producing excitig racing, what did we get? A procession! We saw perhaps three overtakes on the main straight (the only place they could use DRS) which would have probably happened anyway. It’s a joke It should be scrapped as it has signally failed to live up to the hype.
As for Kers, what a total waste of money! And they are trying to REDUCE costs! The whole process of F1 racing is becomg over controlled and suffers for that.

I think it was the perfect amount. It made it possible, and with help of KERS (especially Button was using it cleverly, like letting the whole of it for the last corner) it was the right amount. I don’t know how it will be at other circuits, but they should make it like this everywhere. I was very impressed.

1) A success for me. I never expected an abundance of over-taking and this is only exagerrated by it’s first use in anger at a circuit not blessed with a particularly long straight.

2) I don’t think changing it so quickly is the way forward. The only change will be dependant on already existing braking zones which is related to the distance of the DRS activation zone.

3) The zone at Albert Park was spot on. Of the hundreds of laps covered over the weekend Sutil was the only one to come a cropper.

So in conclusion…I liked it! Even if the DRS doesn’t result in a direct over-take it allows drivers to get in the slipstream to give them a chance, not a guarantee.