Question: Hi Colin, because you make F1 cars could you tell me what DRS is and why it is used and when. Thanks Ben.

Colin Dick answered on 17 Jun 2013:

Hi Ben,

Thanks for your question.

DRS stands for Drag Reduction System, as you might already know. And firstly I need to point out that we want maximum downforce in the corners and minimum drag on the straights.

I also need to define drag – this is the force of the wind pushing back against the car. You might feel it when you’re on your bike or if you stick your hand out the window of a moving car. If you stick your hand out of the car (a very silly thing to do…) you will feel that the force of the wind changes, depending on whether your hand is flat open against the wind (more force) or if you twist your hand so that it’s parallel to the ground (less force). DRS uses the same science.

Normally, the rear wing is curved so that the rearwards/upper part of the wing is almost flat against the wind which creates load of drag which is bad on the straights (this also creates loads of downforce, which is a good thing for going round corners). So when the car is on the straight, the rearwards/upper part can rotate (in the same way that you twist your hand) so that it is horizontal with the ground and the force of the wind (i.e. the drag) is reduced. By reducing this drag force, the car can accelerate faster and reach a higher top speed. This is called the DRS. The car also loses downforce, which is why the DRS is only used on the straight parts of the track.

The rules change from year-to-year, but usually the DRS is only allowed for the driver who is close behind another car (within 1 second) and this helps him overtake on the straights.

Hope this clears things up?

Cheers,

Colin.