F1 racing guide: What is DRS? What do flags mean? More facts (2024)

FAQs

What does DRS in F1 mean? ›

The term stands for drag reduction system, a controversial mechanism controlled by the driver. With the press of a button in specific zones the rear wing can open on F1 cars. DRS facilitates closer racing and helps with overtaking as the rear wing's flap opens up, reducing drag to increase speed.

The green flag means the track is clear and there are no issues ahead. It is used in practice sessions, qualifying and the race. Yellow Flag: The bright-yellow flag means there is a hazard up ahead and for drivers to approach with caution.

Recently, the F1 Commission agreed that drivers can activate DRS just one lap after the race begins, rather than two, during the 2024 season. And, as mentioned above, drivers can only use DRS during a race when they are less than a second behind the preceding driver, while in other sessions, it can be used at any time.

DRS Detection point

To use DRS, a driver must drive within one second of his/her predecessor. This is measured at a so-called detection point. A detection point is just before a DRS zone. It does not matter whether the car in front of him/her is a direct competitor or a lapped car.

As for the car in front, the normal practice is that the driver is contacted by his team via radio and warned that a rival is within the critical gap. At that point, the chasing driver will manually activate DRS by pressing the aforementioned button on the steering wheel and off they go.

Former Formula One and Team Penske IndyCar Series driver Juan Pablo Montoya described it as "like giving Picasso Photoshop". The principal argument for the opponents of DRS is that the driver in front does not have an equal chance of defending his position because they are not allowed to deploy DRS to defend.

Why was refuelling banned in F1? Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, banned refuelling during the race in 2010, after safety concerns for the drivers. It had previously been impossible to implement the rule as the fuel tanks inside the car were too small.

Makes Races too Predictable

DRS can make races too predictable, as drivers know that they can use DRS to make a pass on straights. This can lead to races where the same drivers are always at the front, as they can best use DRS effectively.

If a driver is measured as being within one second of the car ahead in that detection zone, the DRS will become available to them at the subsequent activation point(s). They will usually be notified by a light on their steering wheel, or by a beep in their ears.

The detection of the one-second gap between cars is fully automated via sensors in the cars as they enter the detection zone on the race track, however, the actual deployment of the DRS system is completed manually by the driver pressing a button on the steering wheel.

How much does an F1 car cost? ›

The Actual Cost of an F1 Car

Determining the exact price of an F1 car can be extremely difficult, as various factors contribute to their overall cost. On average, an F1 car is estimated to cost between $12 and $20 million.

All drivers on the track, apart from the race leader, have DRS as an option in the race as long as they meet the conditions mentioned above. The race leader cannot benefit from DRS to defend their leading position unless a car, a lapped car, within a second of them is ahead.

F1 cars don't have air con, remember, and with drivers compelled to wear fire-proof overalls (for obvious reasons) co*ckpit temperatures were thought to have reached 50 degrees.

Hence, there is a minimum weight for both drivers and cars to encourage fair competition on the track. Weighing the drivers after a race ensures they still meet the F1 minimum weight requirement. Moreover, weighing F1 drivers is also for health reasons.