The DRS made its final appearance in Formula 1 at Abu Dhabi, but who was actually on the grid when it made its debut in Australia back in 2011? Some drivers are still racing today, others have completely changed careers, and there is even someone who has been arrested. This is the story of the pioneers of DRS in Formula 1, from 2011 to the present day.
The drag reduction system, often referred to in Italian simply as the “movable rear wing”, made its final appearance at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final round of the current season. From 2026, Formula 1 will move towards active aerodynamics and the MOM (manual override mode). Over its fifteen-year lifespan, DRS has spanned several different engine eras and has become one of the most discussed technical innovations in modern Formula 1.
2011: the year of Sebastian Vettel
So who was racing in Formula 1 in 2011? First and foremost, there was the undisputed dominator of that season: Sebastian Vettel. Driving the Red Bull RB7, the German won eleven Grands Prix out of nineteen, securing his second world championship title. Vettel had no real rivals in a season that is also remembered for the incredibly long Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, interrupted by rain and eventually won in dramatic fashion by Jenson Button.
The British driver claimed three victories, the same number as Lewis Hamilton – today a Ferrari driver after winning six world titles with Mercedes – but finished ahead of him in the championship standings. And it is impossible to forget Fernando Alonso, who, despite the misfortune that often surrounded the Ferrari 150° Italia, managed to secure a single victory at Silverstone. Last but certainly not least was Mark Webber: the Australian, Vettel’s team-mate at Red Bull, triumphed in Brazil at the final race of the season. He would retire two years later, fittingly at Interlagos, after twelve seasons in Formula 1.
Luxury substitutes: the stars of the future
The 2011 season was also notable for its so-called “luxury substitutes”. At Milton Keynes there was a certain Daniel Ricciardo, very young at the time but already the most smiling face in the paddock. He made his Formula 1 debut during the season, but not with Red Bull. In Britain, he took over the HRT-Cosworth F111 from Narain Karthikeyan and remained a race driver until the end of the championship. His performances impressed the Red Bull management, who promoted him to Toro Rosso the following year.
Over at Silverstone, home of the then Force India team, there was Nico Hulkenberg. The German had already raced as a full-time driver in 2010 with Williams, but the team chose to give his seat to Pastor Maldonado for the following season. And it would be impossible not to mention Davide Valsecchi, who in 2011 was active both in GP2 and in Formula 1 as a test driver for Team Lotus, which later became Caterham.
Meanwhile, at Renault, a certain Romain Grosjean was beginning to take his first steps in the Formula 1 paddock. It is also worth taking a look at Virgin Racing, where the British team listed Robert Wickens among its test drivers. The Canadian’s career was tragically interrupted by a violent crash during the 2018 ABC Supply 500 at Pocono, a race valid for the IndyCar championship. Left paraplegic, Wickens later returned to racing using cars equipped with hand controls, becoming an inspiring example of determination and resilience.
The final solo of Rubens Barrichello
That season also marked several farewells. The Hungarian Grand Prix was Nick Heidfeld’s last appearance in Formula 1, as he was replaced by Bruno Senna from Spa-Francorchamps onwards. The Toro Rosso driver pairing of Sebastian Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari was also completely overhauled at the end of the season, bringing an end to both drivers’ careers as full-time Formula 1 racers.
Interlagos was also the final Grand Prix for two Italian drivers: Jarno Trulli, racing for Lotus at the time, and Vitantonio Liuzzi, driving for HRT. Despite a later appearance at Monza in 2012, the 2011 season was also the only full campaign as a race driver for Jérôme d’Ambrosio. The former Virgin and Lotus driver, after a long period working with Mercedes alongside Toto Wolff, is now one of Frédéric Vasseur’s trusted figures at Ferrari.
Rubens Barrichello deserves a separate mention. After nineteen seasons in Formula 1, which began with Jordan in 1993, the Brazilian said goodbye to the sport. He raced his final two seasons with Williams in 2010 and 2011, having returned to winning ways in 2009 with Brawn GP. Still fondly remembered by Ferrari fans, Barrichello partnered Michael Schumacher at Maranello from 2000 to 2005, collecting nine victories during that period.
Drivers, journalists and…
From the 2011 grid, many drivers went on to change careers. Some found success in other categories, such as Kamui Kobayashi, who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2021, while others moved on to completely different lives. One particularly interesting case is Karun Chandhok. He raced at the German Grand Prix with Lotus before spending the rest of the season on the sidelines. After several experiences in GT and endurance racing, he is now a highly respected journalist and commentator for Sky Sports UK.
There are also those who made headlines, but not for their achievements on track. In 2011, Force India fielded Adrian Sutil. The German often stood out with solid results during his career before leaving Formula 1 at the end of 2015 as a Williams reserve driver. A passionate collector of luxury supercars, he owns several Ferrari, Bugatti, Pagani and Koenigsegg models.
Already known for an “unfortunate incident” in a Shanghai nightclub, when he injured the CEO of Lotus with a champagne glass, Sutil has recently returned to the spotlight for a case involving “serious organised fraud and aggravated embezzlement”. Since November, he has been held in a German prison awaiting trial.
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