Fernando Alonso defends the new DRS system after the 2011 Turkish Grand Prix
Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso has recently stated that the DRS (Drag Reduction System) is going to benefit the sport, despite the heavy criticism it has been prone to, since it has made overtaking much easier.
Even at the Turkish Grand Prix, overtaking was too easy and most overtakes took place at the DRS zone, near turn 12. A huge percentage of those manoeuvres were completed even before reaching the point where the car’s brake.
Alonso, on the other hand, stated that DRS is not as effective as the degradation of the new Pirelli tyres with regard to overtaking.
“The overtaking we saw was more from tyre-performance difference than DRS. I like it; we are getting used to it. It is a new F1 compared to last year. When we followed Rosberg in the first couple of laps, it was impossible to overtake him but when he started to have tyre degradation it was very easy to overtake him. So it is more tyre-related”, said Alonso.
He also stated that the critics of this system should try to remember that these new rules were implemented after a number of surveys which clearly revealed that the fans wanted to see some more entertainment as a result of which, this step was taken by the FIA (Federation International Automobile).
The Spaniard hopes that the races should not become difficult to understand for the audience.
“It is what the people asked. More show, more pit stops, more overtaking. It can be a bit confusing for people”, said the Spaniard.
Ferrari has been unable to give a promising performance until the Turkish Grand Prix, where the 2 time Formula 1 world champion scored his first podium of the 2011 Formula 1 season this past weekend.
The team is hoping to improve even more and it seems that they are now improving and getting relatively closer to the pace of Red Bull Racing Team.
Alonso finished in 2nd place in the 2010 Formula 1 season just a couple of points adrift of the 2011 Formula 1 Champion and this year he claimed that he is aiming for nothing less than the titles.
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