Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

The big British GP chance F1 almost missed

Feature
Formula 1
The big British GP chance F1 almost missed

What Alonso needs from Aston Martin and F1 as career decision looms

Formula 1
Belgian GP
What Alonso needs from Aston Martin and F1 as career decision looms

Why nationality should be 'no factor' as Haas considers Fornaroli and Camara for F1 2027

Feature
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Why nationality should be 'no factor' as Haas considers Fornaroli and Camara for F1 2027

F1 drivers raise concerns over 'self-learning' power units – what's going on?

Formula 1
Belgian GP
F1 drivers raise concerns over 'self-learning' power units – what's going on?

What is holding back Bagnaia in MotoGP 2026?

MotoGP
What is holding back Bagnaia in MotoGP 2026?

Why the 2026 F1 cars suit Antonelli's driving style more than Russell

Formula 1
Why the 2026 F1 cars suit Antonelli's driving style more than Russell

Hamilton takes "full responsibility" for disappointing Belgian GP

Formula 1
Belgian GP
Hamilton takes "full responsibility" for disappointing Belgian GP

McLaren to finally trial 'Macarena-style' rear wing in Hungarian GP practice

Formula 1
Belgian GP
McLaren to finally trial 'Macarena-style' rear wing in Hungarian GP practice

Ross Brawn calls for DRS to be reassessed after 2011 season

Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn wants the FIA to re-evaluate the Drag Reduction System (DRS) concept at the end of the season to see whether the device has been worthwhile

DRS has been an element in the most eventful Formula 1 season in years, with overtaking increasing dramatically at almost every race.

But Brawn remains unsure over whether Pirelli's aggressive approach would have generated a similar level of action without any need for the wing device.

"It has been hard to judge its value because the DRS influence is not as big as the tyre," said Brawn.

"I think tyres have been a major element. DRS, as far as we are concerned, was introduced to stop the racing being processional and it hasn't been because of the tyres, so I think at the end of the season with the FIA we should take a step back, look at where it hurt, look at where it helped, and see what we gained, and see if it has achieved all of its objectives."

Brawn is concerned that overtaking has occasionally been made too easy - and therefore devalued - by the DRS, and wants to be certain that fans appreciate this style of racing.

"We had a couple of races this year where we wished there had been no DRS because we lost places. Montreal was a good example," he said.

"It is frustrating but we need to understand from the fans if they feel that overtaking with DRS is exciting to watch or not, or whether they preferred for overtaking to be more difficult, so we work around the tyres and other factors.

"So I think if we had kept the consistency of the Bridgestone tyres, which were very consistent in the past, then the DRS definitely would have been a very important requirement. It has been less critical because of the tyres."

Previous article Q & A: Mark Gillan on Williams's situation
Next article Rubens Barrichello: I'll do whatever it takes to secure a 2012 Formula 1 seat

Top Comments

Latest news