DRS making overtaking too predictable?

The excitement quotient of a Formula 1 race is directly proportional to the number of overtaking moves in that race.

This seems to be the logic the powers in the sport used while agreeing to install and then finally installing a DRS in every car. I beg to differ.

If DRS is a joke, that there was an ‘Overtaking Working Group’ a few years ago is the bigger joke. For those needing a refresher, the OWG was formed to help come up with solutions to increase ‘overtaking’ in the sport.

And of course, the DRS is their addition to the sport (also known as the ‘adjustable rear wing’ in its earlier days). I decided to pen this post for multiple reasons.

First, to set the record straight and express what I believe is the truth about overtaking.

Second, because I had one of the Facebook pages on F1 throw up a post that claimed that the Hakkinen-Zonta-Schumacher moment at Spa was possibly the greatest overtaking moves in modern times – a moment of inspiration.

Third, the executive summary of the GPDA fan survey – finally some data!

Overtaking is an art

The best way to explain my view on overtaking is by comparing it with foreplay and climax. I am happy to see cars battle with each other for laps on end without an overtake actually taking place because once the act is over, the excitement drops.

Of course, the act is more fun if your favourite driver comes out on top, but that’s beside the point. The DRS fast forwards to the climax even before the act starts.

For F1 to get more exciting, it needs to bring back the act without making the climax predictable. Overtaking is an art and making it artificial and mechanical has done more harm to the sport than good.

Drivers have learned the art over years of training and practice in junior formulae only to realise that you might not need it every race in the pinnacle of motorsport anymore. This is after realizing that ‘lift and coast’ and not late braking is to be mastered.

Work for Strategy Group

One may blame the build of the modern racing cars (their aerodynamic profile) and the tyres, but if there’s one thing that the F1 Strategy Group should fix, it should be this.

And it seems that the regulations for 2017 might introduce ground effect aerodynamics and a restriction for front wing design which should help resolve this issue to some degree.

Till then, reliving races and duels from the past and enjoying movies such as Rush is what the new generation of fans will have to be content with.

Now over to the 40% of the fans who voted in the GPDA survey that DRS has helped improve racing to disagree!

Kunal Shah is a former racer who works in the sports business industry. He pens his view on Formula 1 on his personal blog: kunalsf1blog.