Understanding the Drag Reduction System (DRS) in Formula 1
Introduction
You probably noticed that in Formula 1 every fraction of a second counts. Teams and drivers constantly seek technological advancements to shave off milliseconds from lap times. One such innovation is the Drag Reduction System (DRS), a feature that, to put it simply, helps F1 cars speed up more efficiently on straight parts of the racetrack.
Below you can find:
DRS Cheat Sheet - a short overview of the most important things to know about Drag Reduction System
very basic introductory to aerodynamics of Formula 1 in which we’ll explain what is drag and what is downforce in F1
answers to most important questions like what is DRS, how it works, who activates the DRS, when can you use DRS in F1, and how other racing series use it
and of course, an ELI5 explanation of DRS at the end of the article!
DRS Cheat Sheet - The Most Important Things To Know
What is DRS in F1?
DRS stands for Drag Reduction System. It is a technology that helps F1 cars speed up on straight parts of the racetrack. The system works by adjusting parts of the car's rear wing, temporarily flattening it out to reduce resistance against air flow, which increase its speed on straight sections of the track
What’s the role of DRS?
The primary purpose of DRS is to help with the overtaking by giving the cars behind a speed advantage over those ahead. Deciding the right moment to activate DRS can be crucial for overtaking or defending positions. So we can say that the role of DRS is to make the race more competitive and more exciting.
How does DRS work?
When the driver reaches a specially marked DRS zone, and if the driver is less than 1 second behind the other driver, than they can press the button that will temporarily “open” a piece of the car’s rear wing. Since the air can now flow freely through the rear wing and there is less drag, the car goes faster.
Part 1: The Basics of F1 Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics plays a crucial role in Formula 1 racing. It's all about air movement and how it interacts with the cars. Let's break down the F1 aerodynamics into something simpler.
What is Drag?
Imagine you are driving in a car and you put your hand through out the window. The air pushing against your hand is what we call "drag." The faster you go, the harder the air pushes back against your hand.
However, if you tilt your hand so that it’s not resisting the air, but rather slicing through air, you’ll notice how there’s no more drag. The air is now flowing more freely.
In Formula 1, managing this air resistance is crucial because it affects how fast the cars can travel. Reducing drag means the car can move more smoothly and quickly through the air, just like how you angle your hand to slice through the wind more easily.
Drag vs Downforce in F1
In very, extremely very simple terms, drag is a force that pushes the car from the front and downforce is a force that pushes the car from the top. Think of drag and downforce as two forces that work against and with a Formula 1 car, respectively.
Animated explanation of drag and downforce in F1
As explained above, drag is the air's way of pushing back against the car as it moves forward. Imagine running with a large, flat board in front of you. The harder you run (or the faster the car goes), the harder it is to push the board against the air.
Now, downforce is a bit like having invisible hands pushing the car down onto the road. Downforce is actually created by the car's shape and its aerodynamic elements, like wings and spoilers.
Think of it as the opposite of what happens when you stick your hand out of the car window and tilt it upwards—the air pushes your hand up.
In F1, downforce does the opposite by pushing the car down. This helps the car stick to the track better, especially at high speeds and during sharp turns, giving it more grip and allowing drivers to go faster through corners without sliding off.
While drag is a challenge to overcome (because it slows the car down), downforce is something teams strive to maximize (because it helps with speed in corners). However, increasing downforce often increases drag too, so teams work hard to find the perfect balance between the two. Too much drag, and the car is slow on straights; too little downforce, and the car can't corner quickly. It's a delicate balancing act that can make all the difference in a race.
Part 2: What Is DRS - Drag Reduction System?
What is DRS in F1?
DRS, or Drag Reduction System, is a term used to describe the special technology used in Formula 1 to help cars go faster by reducing drag. Basically, DRS temporarily reduces this resistance on a car, allowing it to speed up more easily.
Max Verstappen Activating DRS at the Australian Grand Prix 2024, source: F1 Youtube Channel
When we say “DRS reduces the resistance”, we mean this - when the driver receives the information that “DRS is enabled”, they have an option to press a button on their wheel which makes the rear wing flap open.
When the rear wing flap is open, the air can flow freely, meaning there is less resistance and less drag, which means car will drive faster for the time that the rear wing flap is open.
The Purpose of DRS
Introduced in 2011, DRS was developed to make racing more exciting. Its main goal is to help cars overtake each other more easily. Overtaking can be hard in F1 because the leading car's turbulence reduces the following car's speed. DRS helps by giving the chasing car a speed boost, making races more competitive.
How DRS in F1 Works?
Each F1 car has a movable part on its rear wing. Normally, the wing is “closed” to maximize downforce, which does help with some parts of racing, but as we said it also increases drag. When DRS is activated, this part moves, ie “opens”, to reduce the angle of the wing, cutting down drag and letting the car move faster.
How DRS works, Australian Grand Prix 2024, source: F1 Youtube Channel
In simple terms, think of DRS as a car's "boost button" that helps it speed up on straight sections of the track, making it easier to catch up to or overtake another car.
Part 3: The Mechanics Of DRS
The DRS system primarily involves the adjustment of the rear wing of a Formula 1 car. The rear wing is designed to provide downforce, which helps the car grip the road better in turns. The DRS system modifies this by temporarily reducing downforce, thus decreasing drag.
The key component is the movable flap on the rear wing. When DRS is activated, this flap opens up, flattening the wing's angle. This reduces the wing's surface area against the airflow, decreasing drag significantly.
How DRS works, Australian Grand Prix 2024, source: F1 Youtube Channel
How Much Speed Does DRS Add To The Car?
The FIA estimates an increase of about 10-12 km/h (approximately 6.2-7.5 mph) by the end of the activation zone. However, this figure might vary with some teams reporting a more modest boost of 4-5 km/h (about 2.5-3.1 mph) at certain tracks.
Activation of DRS During an F1 Race
Drivers can activate DRS only under specific conditions, primarily aimed at boosting overtaking.
DRS Zones: The use of DRS is restricted to designated areas on the track, known as DRS zones. These zones are typically placed on long straights, where the benefit of reduced drag is most effective for overtaking.
Activation Criteria: A driver can activate DRS only when they are within one second of the car ahead at predetermined detection points on the track. This rule ensures that DRS is used as a tool to aid overtaking rather than extending a lead.
Conditions for DRS Enablement or Disablement
Race officials closely monitor and control the use of DRS, enabling or disabling it based on race conditions.
Race Start: DRS is disabled for all drivers at the start of the race and for the initial laps. This is to ensure safety during the crowded and often chaotic opening laps.
Weather Conditions: In adverse weather conditions, particularly during heavy rain, DRS is disabled. The reduction in downforce can lead to dangerous loss of grip on wet tracks.
Safety Cars: Following the deployment of the safety car, DRS is temporarily disabled to ensure the safety of the reformation of the cars on the track.
Part 4: DRS In Other Racing Series
Other racing series handle the concept of aiding overtaking and enhancing race dynamics differently from Formula 1's Drag Reduction System (DRS). IndyCar, for example, uses a system called "Push to Pass" (P2P). Unlike DRS, which reduces aerodynamic drag to increase speed, Push to Pass provides a temporary horsepower boost to the engine, giving drivers an extra burst of speed. This system can be used both for overtaking and defending positions on the track.
IndyCar's Push to Pass is operational on road courses and street circuits but is not allowed on oval tracks. The system works by allowing the driver to close a wastegate in the engine’s exhaust, increasing exhaust pressure and thus, supercharger speed, which pulls more fresh air into the engine. This process makes the engine run more efficiently for a brief period, offering a significant horsepower boost when activated. Drivers have a finite amount of Push to Pass time available, which adds a strategic element to its use in races. Deciding when to use this boost, whether to attack, defend, or improve lap times, becomes a critical part of race strategy.
In comparison to Formula 1's DRS, which is often criticized for creating "DRS trains" where multiple cars benefit from DRS at the same time, making overtaking less of a skillful maneuver, Push to Pass in IndyCar is seen as adding an additional layer of strategy. Drivers must judiciously manage their Push to Pass usage throughout the race, as running out of the allotted time could mean losing out on critical overtaking opportunities or being unable to defend against rivals with remaining Push to Pass time.
Formula E also incorporates unique systems like Attack Mode and Fan Boost. The first one is still used today, while the second one - Fan Boost - was dropped out in 2023. Attack Mode requires drivers to deviate from the racing line to activate a temporary speed boost. On the other hand, Fan Boost requires no special movement. It was a fan-voted power boost awarded to drivers, aimed at improving overtaking and race dynamic.
ELI5: DRS Meaning
In Formula 1 racing, cars have a special button that makes them go faster for a little while on the straight parts of the track. This is called DRS, short for Drag Reduction System.
It works by moving a part of the car's wing to let air flow better and push the car less, making it zip faster.
Of course, there’s also a “catch”. You can’t just use this button whenever you like it. A driver can only press the button if they found themselves in the special “DRS zone” and if the distance between the driver and the car in front of him is less than 1 second.
