McLaren technical director Paddy Lowe hails Drag Reduction System – Formula 1 news
McLaren technical director Paddy Lowe believes that the Drag Reduction System (DRS) has improved overtaking in Formula 1.
Ever since FIA banned aerodynamic efficiency back in 2008 at the backdrop of the financial crisis faced globally. The races were getting very predictable and dull and therefore, the FIA came up with DRS to counter that effect in 2011. Lowe believes it is
an easy and effective way to improve overtaking and the overall standard of racing.
“What's great about DRS is at least we can move on from this debate of trying to change the aerodynamic characteristics of cars to try to improve overtaking,” he told BBC Sport. “We've found something much more authoritative, much cheaper, easier and more
effective, and adjustable from race to race.”
On the other hand, some former players like Niki Lauda are not in favour of the technology and say that it is not the right direction for F1 as there is not much skill involved to overtake the other driver. Another point put forward by Lauda was that with
the rapidly degrading Pirelli tyres, DRS is not really required in such a situation.
“To see passing at the push of a button is fundamentally the wrong direction (for F1),” Lauda told Salzburger Nachrichten. “The front man (the driver in front) is totally defenceless. I think from the sporting point of view it is not right.”
The 2011 season used the DRS to good use as drivers had the ability to overtake and made the races more entertaining. However, it was still overshadowed by the controversial blown diffuser as FIA took a bizarre decision on the banning of the off-throttle
blown diffuser, and held it for only one Grand Prix and reversed the decision to be taken again at the end of the season as teams found it difficult to redesign their cars mid-season.
It would be interesting to see how important DRS proves to be in the 2012 season as the new regulations have banned the off-throttle blown diffuser. The first glimpse of how the cars will perform redesigned under the new regulations will be at the first
pre-season testing in February.
Tags: