Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc feels that Formula 1 should continue to use the Drag Reduction System (DRS) despite the new rules and regulations which were introduced and used to design the 2022 Formula 1 cars, explaining that overtaking would be reduced if DRS was scrapped.
During the last few years, several Formula 1 bosses stated that they would like to eventuall part ways with DRS, as the system is used to significantly increase the straight line speed of a Formula 1 car in certain specific zones. Fans and media also expressed their disapproval regarding this concept which has been used for more than ten years, claiming that DRS takes away from “natural” racing.
Yet it is worth noting that in the Bahrain Grand Prix and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the first two races of the new Formula 1 campaign, 2022 season, the Drag Reduction System was very important and led to the thrilling duel for first place between Charles Leclerc and Red Bull Racing Dutch driver Max Verstappen.
“I think without DRS passing would be reduced significantly. So I think we are still better off with DRS. What we might need to consider maybe is the speed delta that there is with the DRS might be a bit too much, which gives the car behind maybe too much of a speed delta [so] that sometimes the overtake is done before the braking. And you’d much rather have the two cars battling under braking rather than passing like in the highway. Now, that is sometimes what can happen. So maybe we need to have a look at this but we definitely need DRS nowadays.” – the Scuderia Ferrari driver explained, at the end of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
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Charles Leclerc came very close to scoring another race win yesterday, but the Monegasque driver was passed by Max Verstappen at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit with just a few laps until the chequered flag. The 2021 Formula 1 world champion explained that without DRS, it would have been a lot more difficult for him to challenge the F1-75 car: “I didn’t have DRS today I would have never passed,” he said. “I think we are still too sensitive for that. And of course, some tracks are easier to pass than others. But for me at the moment, if DRS wouldn’t be there, I would have been second today.” – the Red Bull driver concluded.
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