The new generation of ground effect single-seaters introduced in F1 from 2022 had the objective of making it easier for the single-seaters to follow the one in front on the track, allowing drivers to race closer to each other and also improve overtaking opportunities.
However, one feature that emerged during 2022 is the excessive difference in speed of the cars when they have the DRS closed and open. A considerable spread, with the effect of the very powerful open Drag Reduction System and a practically certain guarantee of overtaking.
the FIA thought that the ease of overtaking that emerged in 2022 was not ideal, so as to induce it to evaluate the option of shortening the DRS zones on some tracks starting from next season.
The technical director of the FIA Single-seater department, Nikolas Tombazis, is convinced that overtaking as easy as those seen in 2022 are negative from the point of view of entertainment, on a par with the impossibility of the single-seaters to overtake the slower cars in front.
Asked by Motorsport.com if things will change for 2023, Tombazis replied: “In some races it may be necessary to reduce the DRS zones. We don’t want overtaking to be, as we say, inevitable or easy. It still has to be a battle on the track”.
“If you’re overtaking too quickly, if you only see a car approaching and then disappear in front a moment later, it’s worse than staying behind and fighting. You have to find the right balance.”
Outgoing F1 chief executive Ross Brawn said last month he didn’t want those responsible for the sport to be afraid of making the DRS maneuvers more difficult.
The only thing we know is that the fans, and we know it because we don’t like it, they don’t like the ‘go straight, pop the DRS, overtake, drive fast, make a gap’, all of that,” he told Motorsport .com in an exclusive interview.
“I think in an ideal world DRS is just used to get behind someone, so you can land a decent attack.”
He went on to add: “I think we shouldn’t be afraid to reduce the DRS in places like Monza, because it feels a bit like you get behind it, hit the button and overtake. It’s a bit of a ritual, isn’t it?” .
“It’s not very impressive. So we shouldn’t be afraid to reduce the use of DRS when it clearly proves too powerful.”
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