DRS (Drag Reduction System) - Aye or nay?

[Ardius]

So now we've had the system for 2 years, what do people think? I still think its a farcical system that isn't needed.
I feel like this is yet another example of the world being obsessed with "good" statistics while missing what makes those stats "good" - people wanted more overtaking - but not easy overtakes.

Now we get more overtakes, but half of them aren't even worth showing in a highlights reel. There are benefits like allowing drivers on different strategies to pass more easily....but to me that takes away strategies. Its now more about being on the right tyre all of the time regardless of track position because you can make it back so easily with DRS usually.

It also just feels too clinical and pre-ordained way of forcing overtakes, removes some of the anticipation and mystery when you know exactly where the overtake will happen so predictably.

Also, this year the drivers can't use it anywhere on a lap, removing some skill from using DRS in qualifying. It really adds nothing for me now. At least KERS has some flexibility to it.

 

[BlacqueJacques]

It is OK , but depending on gearing can be moot, as maximum revs reached and other car has more revs to work with, results in unsuccessful pass attempt

 

[GTArsenal]

Personally I can't stand DRS. The way Massa used DRS seconds after Raikkonen pulled off a great move in India just sickened me. No way Raikkonen deserved to be stuck behind Massa again after that.

 

[Akmuq]

Personally I can't stand DRS. The way Massa used DRS seconds after Raikkonen pulled off a great move in India just sickened me. No way Raikkonen deserved to be stuck behind Massa again after that.

Or Raikkonen overtaking Schumi at Blanchimont only to be overtaken up Kemmel.

On the upside it led to Kimi making the move into Eau Rouge a couple of laps later.


But yeah, I don't like it, and the Pirelli tyres lead to more entertainment anyway, DRS just makes it too easy most of the time, or not helping one bit.

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

I love it, I recon it doesnt really reward better driver, however it can bring some other strategy in and it makes the race more exciting at least for me. I love when position change in a race by overtaking even if it's on a straight. I'm glad the Schumacher/ferrari area is done and that F1 race are again much more exciting to watch.

I think the 2013 format is even better, because there wont be cheating on qualification like previous year where they could keep the DRS open. Red Bull probably gonna loose a bit on qualification as well since they wont be able to open DRS where other cars can't because they have much more grip.

Also I dont agree it make it too easy, there was a lot of time where top driver where close to each other and couldnt overtake because of gearbox settings or other random stuff. It make it easier I agree, but not too easy.

 

[TyrrellRacing]

I love it, I recon it doesnt really reward better driver, however it can bring some other strategy in and it makes the race more exciting at least for me. I love when position change in a race by overtaking even if it's on a straight. I'm glad the Schumacher/ferrari area is done and that F1 race are again much more exciting to watch.

Why ? I don't understand why many enjoy one car's position increasing by one as his car got an artificial speed advantage to which the defending driver was powerless to prevent.

I think the 2013 format is even better, because there wont be cheating on qualification like previous year where they could keep the DRS open. Red Bull probably gonna loose a bit on qualification as well since they wont be able to open DRS where other cars can't because they have much more grip.

So having a better car is cheating ?

Also I dont agree it make it too easy, there was a lot of time where top driver where close to each other and couldnt overtake because of gearbox settings or other random stuff. It make it easier I agree, but not too easy.

Disagree. Far too often average driving with no real overtaking initiative was rewarded simply due to DRS and nothing else. No amount of tyre preservation and defensive manoeuvres could prevent some overtakes, which is wrong imo.

The KERS system is a far better way of encouraging overtaking as it rewards strategy and it can be used regardless of track position.

 

[Ardius]

Also I dont agree it make it too easy, there was a lot of time where top driver where close to each other and couldnt overtake because of gearbox settings or other random stuff. It make it easier I agree, but not too easy.

Really, you don't think having a straight line speed advantage down a straight is an easy pass?
You can't make overtaking easier.

If you want this kind of overtaking, watch NASCAR - there the overtaking is plentiful but irrelevant. Thats not meant as an insult to NASCAR, but its just the sport is completely different in this respect. Overtakes are a quantity instead of quality.

For me, F1 was about tough but impressive overtakes. Its not impressive to watch cars predictably pass each other on straights. Its just a numbers game. Fortunately we still do get the odd awesome overtake, but thats thanks to the Pirelli tyres mixing it up strategy wise - not because of DRS.

This was impressive because Hakkinen took a risk and went flat out through Eau Rouge and used the backmarker to gain the advantage. The battle had gone on for half the race before hand and the tension was high, Schumacher had aggressively defended the inside every single time except this once, its what made it such an awesome pass:


With DRS Hakkinen probably would have passed a lot earlier and wouldn't have required to take such a risk or use a backmarker. Thats how I see it anyway.