Max Verstappen, Red Bull, Silverstone, 2018

Verstappen: ‘F1 should get rid of DRS’

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In the round-up: Max Verstappen says Formula 1 shouldn’t have the Drag Reductions System.

What they say

Verstappen was asked whether F1 should go back to the DRS rules used in 2011, when drivers could use it at any point on the track during qualifying:

I think no because then you start creating dangerous situation becuse people start opening it earlier and earlier. You have possible crashes and stuff. So I don’t think that’s the right approach.

I think we should get rid of DRS in general. That would be also for the viewers more natural if you can overtake without using the DRS it always looks better.

Quotes: Dieter Rencken

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Comment of the day

Valtteri Bottas has done enough to deserve at least one more year at Mercedes, reckons Ben:

What I’m hoping is that Bottas will get a similar deal [to Hamilton]. The level of bad luck he’s had this year makes him look far worse than he has been.

He lost a win in China due to a safety car costing him seven points. He lost a win in Baku (although that would have been slightly lucky as he was helped a little by the Safety Car) but still a bit of good luck was due. 25 points missed.

In France, he got knocked right to the back and would have almost certainly been second without that. Another 12 points lost. In Austria, he may have had a poor start, but instantly pleased the team by putting them back into a one-two position. If Mercedes didn’t mess either of their drivers strategies up, Bottas will have likely finish with 18 points. But both drivers had to retire.

Even in Britain. Bottas looked settled for second before the two Safety Cars near the end of the race. If Mercedes had chosen to pit him, the worst that would have happened was finishing third, but more likely second. So up to another six points possibly lost here.

So without all this, he could potentially have 172 points and be in the lead of the championship. Although if this was the case, Hamilton certainly will have had worse luck, this wouldn’t have been impossible would it?
Ben Rowe (@Thegianthogweed)

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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...

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13 comments on “Verstappen: ‘F1 should get rid of DRS’”

  1. Look it’s the old “Ferrari hitting Mercedes subject on purpose” subject. That video is almost 2 weeks old no? Btw the answer to that question (in the video) is no, sorry for the spoilers.

    It is the first time I hear the Kubica/Haas rumours, I have heard unfortunately that the Strolls are trying to get a seat at Force India

    Ferruci btw is still in the Haas program, the team as launched an investigation to make a final decision.

    1. Strolls getting a seat in FI is bad news for Williams AND for FI :D

      1. @johnmilk @eljueta
        This is not good news for all except the Strolls. Assuming this does happen, perhaps Esteban is assured of a seat in Williams. I don’t think Esteban should be too worried; lot of talent and potential. He has proved it. Plus there could be a vacancy opening up at Merc in couple of years–so if he gets an assurance of a precedence to that vacant seat at Merc, then two years at Williams isnt tough. Maybe Williams will turn up in 2019 with the new aero regs.
        On the other hand, i am unsure about how Williams will get hit financially, once the Strolls move away–this could go south.

  2. Hockenheim looks like 1 big DRS zone. Im sure he will be happy with that

  3. For once I completely agree with Max. F1 should be trying to reduce the use of DRS, not increase it.

    It cannot be beyond the teams, rule makers, designers and engineers involved in the sport to produce cars that can follow each other more closely and pass given the opportunity. It’s been done before so it can be done again.

    1. Fingers crossed for the 2019 aero revisions

      1. The effect of DRS will be increased next year.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBlip10yYTQ

        About 4:20 in.

        1. The reduction in drag will be increased, yes. But the ability to follow cars closely should also be improved by eliminating out-wash aero designs.

    2. I agree with Max, but the cars are so dependent on it that remove it all together (while I wouldn’t mind) would probably have a negative effect. Formula 1 should research solutions to little by little get rid of it

  4. Is creating energy from the wind legal? Didn’t they only allowed regenerate from kinetic & heat? What if other team install photovoltaic panel?

  5. Not until the long-standing problem of following another car has been fixed. If the aero modifications for next season still won’t fix it to the most desired extent then in 2021 at very the latest.

  6. Kubica and HASS would be great! I called it a few weeks ago…

  7. Personally, I wish the teams would all get together, and agree to disable DRS for a weekend at a track that normally sees high amounts of overtaking.

    I’m sick and tired of all the armchair engineers who insist that F1 would be so much better without DRS.

Comments are closed.