
Gary Anderson: Making rear wings work with DRS
AUTOSPORT technical guru and former F1 designer Gary Anderson analyses how teams have been getting the most out of rear wing technology since the introduction of the Drag Reduction System
The advent of Formula 1's Drag Reduction System in 2011 forced designers to rethink their philosophies behind rear wing design. But things haven't changed as much as most people think.
The science
Under current FIA rules, a rear wing has to fit into a rectangular box when viewed from the side, and has a maximum of two closed aerodynamic sections, the main (lower) wing plane, and the upper flap; each with a specified width and depth.
More from Gary Anderson

Ask Gary: Is there value in crossovers like Hamilton/Rossi?
Ask Gary: Is there value in crossovers like Hamilton/Rossi? Ask Gary: Is there value in crossovers like Hamilton/Rossi?

Gary Anderson: How F1's 'privateers' really fared in 2019
Gary Anderson: How F1's 'privateers' really fared in 2019 Gary Anderson: How F1's 'privateers' really fared in 2019

F1's 'big four' teams' real 2019 performance levels revealed
F1's 'big four' teams' real 2019 performance levels revealed F1's 'big four' teams' real 2019 performance levels revealed

What F1 learned from Ferrari's fuel breach
What F1 learned from Ferrari's fuel breach What F1 learned from Ferrari's fuel breach

Ask Gary: Will the 2021 rules mean a Mercedes car concept change?
Ask Gary: Will the 2021 rules mean a Mercedes car concept change? Ask Gary: Will the 2021 rules mean a Mercedes car concept change?

Where did Red Bull-Honda's pace come from?
Where did Red Bull-Honda's pace come from? Where did Red Bull-Honda's pace come from?

Will Wolff's absence affect Mercedes in Brazil?
Will Wolff's absence affect Mercedes in Brazil? Will Wolff's absence affect Mercedes in Brazil?

F1's prescriptive 2021 rules will only cause design convergence
F1's prescriptive 2021 rules will only cause design convergence F1's prescriptive 2021 rules will only cause design convergence
Latest news

Le Mans 24 Hours: Calado puts Ferrari top in final practice session
Le Mans 24 Hours: Calado puts Ferrari top in final practice session Le Mans 24 Hours: Calado puts Ferrari top in final practice session

Ferrari didn’t expect lap time for Le Mans 24 Hours pole
Ferrari didn’t expect lap time for Le Mans 24 Hours pole Ferrari didn’t expect lap time for Le Mans 24 Hours pole

United has to "do something clever" to recover from tough Le Mans qualifying
United has to "do something clever" to recover from tough Le Mans qualifying United has to "do something clever" to recover from tough Le Mans qualifying

Le Mans 24 Hours: Ferrari locks out front row, Cadillac suffers fire
Le Mans 24 Hours: Ferrari locks out front row, Cadillac suffers fire Le Mans 24 Hours: Ferrari locks out front row, Cadillac suffers fire

Why the end of F1’s design divergence is nothing to be sad about
Why the end of F1’s design divergence is nothing to be sad about Why the end of F1’s design divergence is nothing to be sad about

Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations
Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations

Is this F1's most underrated driver of 2023?
Is this F1's most underrated driver of 2023? Is this F1's most underrated driver of 2023?

Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked
Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked

How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule
How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule

The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing
The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing

How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14
How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14 How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.