A new technical addition to the 2011 season, the Drag Reduction System (Adjustable rear wing/DRS), caused much controversy over the winter break. This was primarily due to the debate over whether the DRS would generate meaningless and almost staged overtaking during a race. However 3 races into the season, the DRS has proved to be quite effective, but not overly efficient in increasing the amount of overtaking in every race.
And this is a great thing. As I've made clear before, true Formula one fans don't want to see large doses of meaningless overtakes fuelled by driver aids. But the new system has been very well managed by the FIA to subtly add to mid race action.
For those who don't know, at each race the FIA allocate a zone where drivers can engage the DRS as long as they're within 1 second of the car in front. The chosen zones have been moderately effective, with the zone (Pit straight) in Australia providing very little overtaking while the Chinese and Malaysian zones generated some compelling wheel to wheel action mid race.
Basically the DRS hasn't determined a race outcome yet. It's only caused handfulls of overtakes and close counter action. Two of the main pillars of Formula One racing. Competition at its finest.
This is thanks to the FIA experimenting with this system. In Australia the DRS didn't give any real advantage. So the FIA fixed this accordingly by allocating a longer straight for the DRS zone in Malaysia. Even in China, the original zone seemed to be too long and by contracting it for sunday, what would have been a large advantage for drivers became an opportunity to drag the car ahead up to turn 14.
Essentially the FIA's ability to adapt the DRS to each circuit has prevented it from becoming an instant overtake system. This professional management of the DRS has increased its popularity amoung skeptical fans and legends alike.
Personally I think the system is brilliant after criticising it pre-season. It has not yet caused a somewhat unfair advantage and has only had one problem, when it deployed on Alonso's car outside the zone in China. Under continuing effective moderation by the FIA, the drag reduction system will provide more close racing action in the upcomming races!
Credit: The F1 Times (www.thef1times.com)
No comments:
Post a Comment