The drivers want to restrict DRS during practice and qualifying sessions

The DRS (Drag Reduction System) made its appearance this year in F1 regulations, with the aim of facilitating overtaking during races and thus enhancing the spectacle of the Grand Prix.

However, the use of DRS is strictly regulated by the FIA: drivers can use the system anytime and at will during free practice sessions and qualifying, but not during the race. In fact, during the race on Sunday, the system can only be used in one or two pre-determined zones of the track.

It is on this matter that the drivers want a change. For them, the conditions for using DRS should be the same in practice and qualifying as in the race, that is to say, restricted and clearly limited. This is what Mark Webber stated on the subject. « There have been some incidents when drivers have tried to exceed the DRS usage limits, so we [the drivers] are quite unanimous that the system should always be limited, as it is in the race, » explains the Australian.

And the Red Bull Racing driver gave a few examples to illustrate his point: « Bruno Senna had an accident in Suzuka, I myself had one on the Friday of testing in Hungary. It’s also the cause of one of the accidents of my teammate Sebastian Vettel during testing ».

Mark Webber also stated that the ideal use of the DRS would be during the main straights of the various tracks, thus avoiding being too close to the track exit during corners. Will the drivers’ spokesperson for the occasion be able to make himself heard to succeed in modifying the DRS regulations in 2012?

Let us recall that since its inception, the DRS system has been far from unanimously accepted by both drivers and Formula 1 fans, with the main criticism being the artificial aspect of the overtakes facilitated by this system. Indeed, the driver overtaken by another using the DRS cannot use theirs during the maneuver, putting them in an easily preyed-upon position.