DRS - Opinion so far?

[Greig]

Thought it was quite poor in Australia but seemed pretty decent in Malaysia and gave some overtaking chances without making it all too easy. Heard Brundle saying they are considering adding a second DRS zone that could be used to allow someone to catch up, then use the other one to overtake, which I am not too sure about to be honest.

[voiko]

i like it!

[F2002]

Agreed - I believe that DRS improved the show in Malaysia.

Why wouldn't a free ride with DRS help? I mean, can't they just allow them to use it wherever they want?

Today, the advantage of a better show is outweighed by too much complexity for the casual fan.

[Sianellen]

I like it

It worked well in Malaysia and we had some good overtaking. Not sure about adding a second one, I think we have a pretty good balance with it atm.

[MundoX]

DRS ok, maybe a KERS increase for a 5s delayed car, to catch up the leader.

[Rishu]

There is a very fine line. If straights are short like in Australia, its a waste. If straights are too long, it will give too much advantage to car behind & eventually front car would lose by the time straight ends. It is perfect where straights are between the two catagories. It will give atleast some chance to car in front to defend

[scuderiafan]

I like it, it was a great race and no sprinklers were needed.

[Stormsearcher]

There is a very fine line. If straights are short like in Australia, its a waste. If straights are too long, it will give too much advantage to car behind & eventually front car would lose by the time straight ends. It is perfect where straights are between the two catagories. It will give atleast some chance to car in front to defend

On the whole i think it is working out. Its made overtaking a lil bit easier and you can see the drivers taking more chances.
However, i needed to ask... if a chasing car is using DRS to overtake the car in front, is there a restriction on the driver in front from using DRS too? Why cant he just use the same and keep the distance?

[Hornet]

The DRS is now a huge factor in overtaking, so its important we come up with a reliable design. Its new, Alonso was unlucky, but I hope we won't just sit on it. We should continue to study why it failed, and come up with more reliable design with lesser chance of failing.

But yeah, i think its ok so far, although I still prefer a more consistent solution, because it only helps overtaking at a straight, a single part of the track.

What I'd prefer is a more constant solution like bottom effect which allows the drivers to fight all around the track, not just at the straights.

Still, something is better than nothing i guess

On the whole i think it is working out. Its made overtaking a lil bit easier and you can see the drivers taking more chances.
However, i needed to ask... if a chasing car is using DRS to overtake the car in front, is there a restriction on the driver in front from using DRS too? Why cant he just use the same and keep the distance?

Yes, you can't use it to defend. Firstly, it negates the effect of trying to help the car behind.

We have to remember the reason why we have DRS in the first place. Its because the attacking car is at an aero disadvantage. So DRS is to give an advantage to the attacking driver to negates the disadvantage he has from the aero problem we're facing right now, where a car following closely at the back lose front downforce.

Sort of like to balance things out, since the driver behind is losing front grip, we give him a different advantage to neutralize it.

[Tifosi]

I like it - when it works and doesn't break - stopping our driver from overtaking the Hamster - with disastrous consequences

[Stormsearcher]

The DRS is now a huge factor in overtaking, so its important we come up with a reliable design. Its new, Alonso was unlucky, but I hope we won't just sit on it. We should continue to study why it failed, and come up with more reliable design with lesser chance of failing.

But yeah, i think its ok so far, although I still prefer a more consistent solution, because it only helps overtaking at a straight, a single part of the track.

What I'd prefer is a more constant solution like bottom effect which allows the drivers to fight all around the track, not just at the straights.

Still, something is better than nothing i guess


Yes, you can't use it to defend. Firstly, it negates the effect of trying to help the car behind.

We have to remember the reason why we have DRS in the first place. Its because the attacking car is at an aero disadvantage. So DRS is to give an advantage to the attacking driver to negates the disadvantage he has from the aero problem we're facing right now, where a car following closely at the back lose front downforce.

Sort of like to balance things out, since the driver behind is losing front grip, we give him a different advantage to neutralize it.

Thats pretty cool then.
I was sceptical of it at the beginning, but am beginning to like it.

Where does KERS fit into the whole scheme? Can it be used along with DRS? Can the leading driver use KERS to fight off the car behind deploying DRS?

[Greig]

KERS can be used anytime they wish

[Stormsearcher]

wow.. then a guy chasing, can use the DRS and complement it with the KERS.... He can actually fly away!

[FerrariF60]

wow.. then a guy chasing, can use the DRS and complement it with the KERS.... He can actually fly away!

they already do that....and if the car ahead of him has used it's KERS, he has NO CHANCES AT ALL in defending his position

[WRX202]

IMO Kers and DRS kill eachother, all that the one being overtaken has to do is delay the time before using KERS to gain a good high end top speed on 6th/7th gear plus DRS can be a disadvantage as you find yourself needing to outbrake your opponent but have much less downforce till the wing is fully closed. Even if it closes sooner the effect would still surpirse the driver as the car's balance would be altered heavily with the wing shutting down.

[brava]

I like it! The races are much more fun, a lot more overtakings, and makes the grid position less and less important as one can make up a few positions during the race.

Overall, much more exciting races since DRS.

[Ste]

I have to admit that I was very anti DRS when it was announced, all through testing and probably after Australia as well.

But now, my opinion towards it is changing somewhat. I thought initially that it'd generate false overtaking. I like drivers to work for a pass, do it properly.

However, in Malaysia, it didn't seem too easy. Sure, it closed the gap to the car infront pretty swiftly, especially if they were already close out of the final corner, but most of the passes weren't just a straight past, pull infront job. They still had to outbrake the other driver at the end of the straight, just like normal.

I don't think we would have seen too many passed without it and they certainly made it more interesting. Drivers would have been stuck unable to pass without it and therefore it livened up the show. We will see how it works in China, I wonder if they will put the DRS zone on the long back straight or the pit straight? I know it's supposed to go on the longest straight but that wasn't the case in Malaysia.

As for 2 DRS zones, I don't think there is much need. I think that'd promote the false overtaking I was scared of previously. They don't need two chances, just the one. Let's not make it too artificial, otherwise cars will just wait for those zones rather than bothering elsewhere at all.

[NJB13]

No-one was more against DRS than me, and, honestly, I still think its an unnecessary gimmick, but, at least it hasn't provided any of the worse things I feared - e.g. easy overtakes etc.

If it's going to stay, I don't see why they limit it's use, race use should be the same as qualifying, any time, anywhere.

[Zenmaster]

Artificial racing. It's not needed and they need to do away with this crap and kers. Seriously, the driver behind has to wait until he's within 1 sec of the guy in front? It's ridiculous. All they need to do to improve overtaking is reduce the brake disk size. Think back to the early/mid 90's when overtaking was abundant. It was mostly happening in braking areas, which isn't possible anymore as the braking areas are so small. Back then it was all a test of who had the bigger, err manhood.

Anyway, i hate the artificial overtaking and it's actually turning me off the sport. It's more like Need for Speed F1 now.

[xpman]

do they still have the thing when racing places like Monza and do You have to have it cant you normal wings?

I think is stupid like I think the Enforced pit stops

[Nova]

It is a gimmick, one that saw FA have problems in the race...while it is too soon to say I like it or not, it
hurt us in the race..I dont like the fact that the tires just go off period...I couldnt tell if Massa was faster than Webber
because at 1 tire change Massa passed him, then when Webber got a change, he passed Massa. The tires appear to dictate the
racing, n Id rather see the drivers fight it out and not be hampered by tire issues. That is the real gimmick that I dont care for.