DRS Has Ruined Formula One, by Kunal Shah

There's a Drag Reduction System (DRS) and then there's a debate on the benefit it offers the sport of Formula 1. To me, both points are absolutely ridiculous.

Photo: Octane Photography

Forty per cent fans believe that DRS has done good to the sport. I beg to differ. It has made the art of overtaking look mechanical, boring and far less heroic than ever before.

Basis my research and to be fair to the brains that introduced the DRS, it was a system that was designed to allow the car following to come closer to the car being followed and offer some wheel-to-wheel to action. But it seems that the drawing board to track implementation of the DRS went the 2015 Honda V6 hybrid engine way.

The advancement and over-dependence on aerodynamics is one of the chief reasons for lack of overtaking on track and hence to be blamed for dumb-ifying overtaking. But I guess this is the sign of times we're in - smartphone, dumb user!

Then of course, there's the 'Truth About Overtaking' which you are welcome to read. Mithila and I got together a few days ago to record this video episode of The Inside Line - 'DRS Has Ruined Formula One'. Tune in!

We take a strong side in the debate on whether DRS (Drag Reduction System) has ruined Formula 1 or not. We still can't fathom why 40% fans think that DRS is good for the sport.

Basis the top 10 overtakes (questionable anyway) released by Formula 1, only a handful were DRS assisted. So can DRS too go the Pastor Maldonado way in 2017? And maybe Max Verstappen should conduct a crash course on the ‘Art of Overtaking’ for the other drivers.

Tune in before you choose to agree or disagree with us.

(Season 2016, Video 05)



The Inside Line F1 Podcast is hosted by Mithila Mehta and Kunal Shah. This Formula One podcast offers a unique humourous view on the sport. Follow us on Facebook and on Google+.

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