Video guide to KERS and DRS with Sebastian Vettel

F1 video

14th March 2011, 17:5514th August 2012, 8:43 | Written by Keith Collantine

Sebastian Vettel explains the basics behind Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems and Drag Reduction Systems (adjustable rear wings) in this video produced by Red Bull:

Update: You can also watch the Mark Webber version of this video.

F1 video

Browse all F1 videos

Author information

Keith Collantine

Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...
Read more about Keith Collantine, find all their articles and get in touch with them

Got a potential story, tip or enquiry? Find out more about RaceFans and contact us here.

76 comments on “Video guide to KERS and DRS with Sebastian Vettel”

Louis
14th March 2011, 17:59

Wow, overtake zones, invisible distances, I’ve known about them, but seeing them depicted just made me realize how video-gamey the whole thing looks, which is awful for F1, imo.

Cheap-shot: wow, 2 Red Bulls racing close to each other and not crashing?
1. unoc
  15th March 2011, 1:42
  
  True.
  
  Where’s the God-mode cheat?
  
  KERS is ok as it is equal for all and you can put your car a bit closer in towards the car your following allowing you to then overtaker as per normal.
  
  DRS (the rear wing) is just stupid. No one cares about overtakes where you are way faster and just fly past down a striaght, people remember back and forths, eau rouge with hakkinen and schumacher etc…
  1. studi06
    15th March 2011, 2:44
    
    I’m inclined to agree with you at this stage.. I will reserve my final judgement on DRS until I see it used in anger but my early impression, like yours, is that if it’s too easy to pass and the leading driver is akin to a sitting duck then nobody will care about the overtake..
  2. JuanFanger
    15th March 2011, 7:08
    
    There will be back and forths, it will just take exactly one lap for each.
    
    Picture two evenly matched cars who can manage to stay within a second of each other – say Webber and Vettel – Vettel overtakes Webber on lap N, then Webber gets back in front on lap N+1, then Vettel goes back in front on lap N+2 until the penultimate lap when one or the other overtakes for the win.
    
    I can see a driver refusing to overtake on the 3rd last lap to ensure they are in position to overtake on the penultimate lap.
    
    Or perhaps a leader will slow down to let a very close car overtake just before the one second measuring point on the penultimate lap…
    1. Ady
      15th March 2011, 9:21
      
      Or two drivers working as a team can use the two and fro of this to increase their overall combined speed over a race distance.
      
      You would need two drivers to work together, and how would the final result be determined (prior to the race)?
      1. BasCB (@bascb)
        15th March 2011, 9:56
        
        Like they do in cycling, or cross country skeeing to change who does the hard work up front?
  3. Lopes
    15th March 2011, 15:09
    
    Agree. The DRS looks like the “Catch Up” option on many racing games where the car behind (unfairly) runs faster to help it catch up with the car in front.
    I understand the idea of that option was to improve the show (or the gameplay, in this case) but I always turned it off when possible.
2. Hare
  15th March 2011, 19:01
  
  Louis. My thoughts exactly. The Red Bull Drivers last year couldn’t do that for that long….. :)
Spud (@)
14th March 2011, 18:04

I’m looking forward to seeing these devices in action. I Thinking about it now, its a good thing that there are set places for the driver to deploy the rear wing. They will still have to make up time to be close enough to overtake. I apreciate that it’s only a computer generated video but I reckon there will still need to be some skill involved and that this overtaking business may not be “that” easy.

But thats just my opinion, we’ll just have to wait and see I suppose.
Whitty 123
14th March 2011, 18:14

Fans want a way of knowing when a driver is using KERS.

Have the cars glow blue like in the video. Simple :)
1. Spud (@)
  14th March 2011, 18:25
  
  Not unlike those GT cars, with the lights in the doors?? That would actually look very cool, probably not practical but very cool. :)
  1. gabal
    14th March 2011, 19:26
    
    They could make the tyres appear red in broadcast when cars are using KERS. I’m not sure how hard would be to implement something like that though.
    1. Spud (@)
      14th March 2011, 20:42
      
      Thats a great idea too. I dont know how difficult it would be but it would certainly look very cool.
      1. Regis
        14th March 2011, 23:00
        
        It wouldn’t be hard at all, but i doubt they would want to do it. F1 is missing a lot of the cool stuff you find in Nascar.
        
        I’m talking about digital on screen stuff, not actual racing. F1 is so much better than Nascar.
    2. PJ Tierney
      15th March 2011, 10:39
      
      Onboard shots where we see the throttle/brake input could also have a Kers on/off indicator on-screen. Easiest solution.
      1. Rob Haswell
        15th March 2011, 12:49
        
        That’s what they did in 2009 – it was a little orange battery icon showing the KERS charge, that glowed yellow when it was pressed.
    3. Damon
      15th March 2011, 14:29
      
      Oh I hate those stupid graphics they smear all over the screen in NasCar! God no!
  2. BasCB
    15th March 2011, 7:29
    
    That would be great. Like the leds on the car in the SWIFT idea for next years Indy cars.
2. F1iLike
  14th March 2011, 19:40
  
  Awesome! :D Cover the cars in blue LEDs and when they use KERS, they light up! Would look epic at Singapore! Maybe not so pleasant for other drivers though? xD
  1. Spud (@)
    14th March 2011, 20:45
    
    That would make for some fairly knarly slo mo photos too wouldn’t it. :D
    1. BasCB
      15th March 2011, 7:30
      
      Bring it on!
      
      I want to see that flash of light they showed in the rendered video here.
      1. Louis
        15th March 2011, 21:35
        
        Maybe they should just have pop-up infos like in the F1 2010 game, with “distance to next car”.. in fact, why not just make the drivers just play a 24-player network round of F1-2010?
marc connell
14th March 2011, 18:15

I wonder what the DRS and KERS at same time would do to you at end of the straight…kers effects the braking so, faster speed, less downforce and crappy brakes…clearly recipe for disaster
1. George (@george)
  14th March 2011, 20:47
  
  Not really, although I’m not sure how KERS effects braking (from what they were saying in ’09 it sounded more than a simple reduction) but the difference in speed isn’t likely to be too high due to gearing, probably 15kph max. I wouldn’t expect the FIA to make the rear wing zone go right up to the braking zone either, and even if they did it reverts to the standard position as soon as you touch the brakes.
  
  I think an F1 driver would probably realise they have to break 10m earlier or whatever in any case, and most heavy braking zones lead into a fairly wide corner in case you outbrake yourself.
  1. Icthyes (@icthyes)
    15th March 2011, 10:12
    
    The cars would have to brake earlier? Well that’s going to kill overtaking.
    
    God, if only they’d just let the impact of the new tyres be measured independently first instead of slapping on 3 different changes in one go.
2. wev
  14th March 2011, 21:43
  
  the wing would be put back to normal position for the corners though and the kers would not be used right before a corner
BS
14th March 2011, 18:16

Always nice to see these video’s from red bull.

Love Kers, good tech that can be used freely. Really hate the DRS, dumb tech constrainted to rediculous restrictions.
davey (@djdaveyp87)
14th March 2011, 18:18

Love these little vids Red Bull make! They should make an “F1 for Dummies” series to introduce people to the sport!
David-A (@david-a)
14th March 2011, 18:29

What an inaccurate video. The cars didn’t even crash into each other once…
1. Todfod (@todfod)
  14th March 2011, 20:39
  
  LMAO for a good 5 mins
ImFasterThanTheStig (@imfasterthanthestig)
14th March 2011, 18:32

Come on guys, since Istanbul we all know that these two can’t race that close to each other without crashing :-P
Fixy (@)
14th March 2011, 18:47

These simulations are more realistic than F1 videogames.
rfs
14th March 2011, 18:54

If a driver uses the ARW outside an overtaking zone, would he get penalised?
1. Chris Pattison
  14th March 2011, 19:29
  
  As far as I’m aware the ARW only becomes active when in the overtaking zone. So pressing the button outside of this area (during a race) will have no effect.
2. gabal
  14th March 2011, 19:30
  
  I think he can’t use it outside the overtaking zone as it is controlled by ECU.
  1. AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
    14th March 2011, 21:50
    
    Which is controlled by the race director (or whoever he delegates it to).
Prof Kirk
14th March 2011, 19:59

Great production by RedBull as always,
Favourite part was at the end where it showed the drafting.

I think I remember RedBulls 2009 video production had Webber and Vettel spinning into each other all the time? No Joke. I must find it to see if my memory is still what it use to be!

@Spud – You should send an email to Bernie, because Blue lights on the sides when they engage KERS is the best idea I have heard for a long time! Imagine the photo’s at the night races in Singapore and Abu Dhabi!
1. Prof Kirk
  14th March 2011, 20:10
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTkVKPdyWs0 1:50 was what I was thinking of, but I remembered it to be more violent.
2. US_Peter (@us_peter)
  15th March 2011, 5:39
  
  The drafting part was my favorite as well. It did a great job of illustrating how the disturbed airflow causes drag on the trailing car.
3. Spud (@)
  15th March 2011, 13:51
  
  Cheers mate. I kinda robbed the idea from some GT racing I saw in Dubai last week but it would look so cool.
  
  And some better on screen graphics like from NASCAR would be really cool too. :)
sato113 (@sato113)
14th March 2011, 20:23

i see a problem: if a driver is very close behind another driver, and uses his DRS on a long straight like in china, he could pass the other car with half the straight still to go! and the other driver can’t possibly counter attack.
1. David-A (@david-a)
  14th March 2011, 20:42
  
  But if he goes into the slipstream of the car that just passed him, he may be able to use the tow and his own DRS button to counter attack.
  1. thestig84
    14th March 2011, 21:06
    
    Im afraid that wont happen. He wont be able to redeploy and attack until next lap as they will have passed the timing loop that decides you are close enough and activates the wing.
    1. David-A (@david-a)
      14th March 2011, 21:44
      
      Ah, I see now. DRS is kinda crappy then.
  2. sato113 (@sato113)
    14th March 2011, 21:17
    
    yeah he won’t be able to use his DRS to counter. shame…
    1. AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
      14th March 2011, 22:13
      
      If he could, could he not create a better slipstream for the guy behind him anyway?
      1. sato113 (@sato113)
        15th March 2011, 2:22
        
        wait, what? even in the slipstream of the car that has just overtaken you, you won’t be able to keep up as the DRS is more effective than a slipstream…
2. George (@george)
  14th March 2011, 20:49
  
  I seem to remember some side-by-side action half way down the straight at china last year?
  1. sato113 (@sato113)
    14th March 2011, 21:17
    
    yeah that’s great! but… this year we’ll see that but with no counter attacking… :(
3. thestig84
  14th March 2011, 21:03
  
  This is unlikely to happen due to the FIA and where they position the overtaking zone. They are likely to be towards the end of straights so there is still some skill required and some late braking.
  
  That is the hope and its all in the FIA hands. They can tweak it either way. My opinion is give each car 20/30 movements during the race and let them do what they want during the race. Have the remaining numbers next to the drivers name on screen.
  
  This gets rid of all the complicated rules, timings and most importantly wont limit passing to the ARW zone. having one zone will be the easiest and least risky place to pass meaning if your not sitting there your not likely to see and overtaking attempts at all.
4. Todfod (@todfod)
  14th March 2011, 21:05
  
  Technically.. shouldn’t the driver who has just been overtaken halfway through the straight, be able to activate his DRS as well? (He is now within 1 second of the car in front)
  1. thestig84
    14th March 2011, 21:17
    
    No. Look at the video again. There will be a designated timing zone. Lines painted on the track, this will be where the gap is measured and ARW activated or not for the following car.
    
    Way to complicated, fake and rubbish for people sitting at the track on an old overtaking spot where now no drivers will bother risking it…maybe.
5. US_Peter (@us_peter)
  15th March 2011, 5:44
  
  The drivers will ONLY be able to use the DRS at the very end of the main straight. Currently the final 600m of the straight. The FIA may choose to adjust that if there’s too much/not enough overtaking, but currently the length of the straight at the circuits will have no bearing on the length of the overtaking zone where the DRS can be used, as it will be a standard 600m at all circuits.
Jtc
14th March 2011, 21:02

How bout instead of all this gimmickry, we just stop letting tilke design tracks….
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
14th March 2011, 21:46

You can also watch the Mark Webber version of this video.
1. Regis
  14th March 2011, 23:04
  
  The Webber version still has Vettel’s finger in the air at the beginning.
2. BasCB (@bascb)
  15th March 2011, 8:36
  
  I like the Webber version a bit more. Probably about Mark, but also he is more accurate for example saying the DRS can give 7-13 Kmh more instead of 10 kmh.
  1. mr. t
    15th March 2011, 20:48
    
    I like the Webber version better because Vettel thinks the energy is sent to the “back of the wheels”…!
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
14th March 2011, 21:47

Anyone who takes this video as gospel needs to take it with a pinch of salt. Everyone (except a couple of teams) is running both KERS and DRS. Levels the playing field.
1. Alistair Nieuwoudt
  15th March 2011, 0:29
  
  They both clearly state in their videos that most teams have KERS and all have DRS. But your untamed hatred of Red Bull is to be commended. :)
2. BasCB (@bascb)
  15th March 2011, 8:37
  
  They do say so with the KERS being best for the start to go forward of defense position (Webber even says this is because most cars have it)
  1. Icthyes (@icthyes)
    15th March 2011, 10:14
    
    Maybe this will increase the value of getting a good start. Either you’re on pole so you can save some KERS to pull away, or you’re rocketing through the grid and then get an even better boost (e.g. Hamilton Nurburgring ’09)
Pika
14th March 2011, 22:34

I think they should let them use it all the time like in qualy. In race, if you forget to use it, you get passed. Simply as that.
Tango
14th March 2011, 22:50

Say what you might, but these videos are really cool in a complete unrealistic way. A great way to lure non fanatics into F1.
AlonsoWDC
14th March 2011, 23:20

As someone who adores the F Zero Nintendo series (among many more racing games, this is at least the most technical arcade game, though my favorite is Mario Kart), especially F Zero X, I quite like the massive reintroduction of KERS and the adjustable rear wing.
sato113 (@sato113)
15th March 2011, 2:19

funny how Vettel is on pole and webber qualifies p4 in the vid… :D
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
15th March 2011, 2:35

Beautifully explained here.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
15th March 2011, 8:48

Okay, so if you need 1.5 seconds to make a pass stick, how much time does the DRS offer?
Torg
15th March 2011, 9:50

Sorry, cant view the video. When does the ARW deactivate after a pass. The moment the driver overtakes or at the end of the straight?

I seriously dont get why they have reintroduced KERS though, just another distraction for the drivers to deal with. Should of been one or another although KERS limited like DRS. Having it non limited renders it pointless imo.
1. BasCB (@bascb)
  15th March 2011, 9:59
  
  The rear wing drops as soon as they hit the brake pedal. Or it can be dropped by the driver if he pushes the button a second time.
Torg
15th March 2011, 10:04

Cheers Bas,

Whats the chances of getting a pass around Circuit de Catalunya?? lol.
1. BasCB (@bascb)
  15th March 2011, 10:08
  
  I think it might be just a tad higher whit these rear wings and some faster drivers finding themselves behind slower ones due to pitstop strategy.
  
  Still not too much hope of seeing heaps of them, rather seeing the cars in heaps if it goes wrong ;-)
2. Icthyes (@icthyes)
  15th March 2011, 10:15
  
  So long as they don’t use the main straight as the zone, the cars would never get to within a second of each other coming out of the chicane. Hard to see any part of the circuit where they would, actually!
Boba
15th March 2011, 12:41

red bull should add this blue effects to it’s livery.
dj
16th March 2011, 19:00

Funny they use Youtube to promo. this,but if you post any thing from a real GP….B.E. is all up in arms about it.
Lucas
16th March 2011, 21:55

Since K.E.R.S. got Kers as it’s name, do we call D.R.S. something like Drs?

Comments are closed.

New on RaceFans

Author information

Keith Collantine

76 comments on “Video guide to KERS and DRS with Sebastian Vettel”