DRS Should Be Banned In Qualifying

[ESPImperium]

I know i contradict myself, as i did think that posibly a rule where the race leader cant use it unless the guy behind is within a second of him? So Vettel would have to wait till Alonso was up with him more or less before he could use it. The the leader could use it for defence, meanwhile the attacker still had his usages left.

This way it would be used for Push To Pass purposes.

Another thing this would also do is increase fuel consumption of the leader as he wouldnt be able to run and hide any longer as he could be attacked later in the race. Teams would have to run with more fuel in the car for this eventuality if they needed to turn the wick up a little to try and defend in the last few laps.

Another thing id also do for safety reasons is make it that if a driver was to input more than 20 degreese of action into his steering the flab closed, thus meaning the tunnel at Monaco would be usless and the likes of Eau Rouge or Blanchamont would also be usless.

It would mean that drivers could use it in many senarios, thus negating the undercut of new tyres, maybe make DRS disabled the lap after a pit stop as well.

One thing id posibly do is make Monaco and posibly Singapore a Non DRS race for saftey reasons. Or in a Street circuit have only 10 activations per race and the usual 3 for Quali.

[Shrieker]

My reason for setting up this topic was FIA's original intention for DRS, and how it's digressing from that thanks to gains that could be had in quali. But still, it's quite pleasing to read ideas I couldn't think of.

Using DRS in quali only in designated areas for the race is a good solution; so is making it a tactical device by allocating a limited number of uses; and so is limiting it to a fixed amount of time per lap leaving the decision to the driver.

Thinking about race situations, I assume we all hate seeing cars fly past one another, hence all the suggestions. Mine would be (if I may) putting transponders on the cars; when you're alongisde someone you're trying to overtake, the flap closes, and the rest you'll have to take care of.

I think what you meant to say is, "DRS should be banned."

Or maybe that's just what I wanted someone to say.

I see where you're coming from, but with the current aero rules, I'd rather have a device that offers benefits for time lost traveling in another car's wake, than watch a car crave chewing it's tyres to death trying to overtake the trulli train.

[WhiteBlue]

I think DRS is ok the way it is used in qualifying. Why fix something that isn't broken? Use other means of over coming the boredom of the off season is my advise.

[agip]

I have the exact opposite opinion. I believe DRS should be allowed all the time, and not limited to a section of the track to create artificial racing.

This.

[Nickel]

Thinking about race situations, I assume we all hate seeing cars fly past one another, hence all the suggestions. Mine would be (if I may) putting transponders on the cars; when you're alongisde someone you're trying to overtake, the flap closes, and the rest you'll have to take care of.

Great idea! Conversely, you could allow the defending driver to open theirs at this moment instead of the attacker closing his? Seeing as speed is rpm limited and not hp limited, I suggest this because closing the drs in theory does not slow the attacking car.

[Shrieker]

Makes sense to me. That would also bring a much daring braking duel come next corner, wouldn't it

@WhiteBlue,

I think there's a general consensus among fans that DRS at least needs some honing. I'm sure you'll excuse the urge to discuss it.

[bhall]

I think what you meant to say is, "DRS should be banned."

I see where you're coming from, but with the current aero rules, I'd rather have a device that offers benefits for time lost traveling in another car's wake, than watch a car crave chewing it's tyres to death trying to overtake the trulli train.

I don't think there's anything particularly wrong with the aero formula - aside from the hideous proportions and ever-tightening restrictions - that inhibits overtaking. All things being equal, and even though this appears to go against common logic, it's the reduction of mechanical grip that opens the door to more overtaking.

That's why everyone loves wet races. Aero grip doesn't change because of rain, but mechanical grip takes a big hit. And then we all cheer.

I think the silly-putty Pirellis proved it last season, too.

[raymondu999]

Shrieker - the way most teams are optimising DRS for quali is for a greater drag reduction with an extremely short flap. It should actually help with the DRS effect for overtaking as well - the primary caveat is race pace

[joseff]

Ive always said that DRS should be limited to 20 or 25 pushes per race, drivers should have to use them tactically. And that DRS should be only de-activated on the first lap and the first lap after a SC period.

I can also get on board with this. The point is, make it the same for everyone! Don't give an unfair advantage to a following car.

[TRICKLE69]

I think it should be limited to the drs zone only and at any time during practice, quali and the race.

[Nickel]

I think it should be limited to the drs zone only and at any time during practice, quali and the race.

I'm not a fan of the idea of a specific "zone" for the use of drs. Personally what I like about it's use in quali is seeing who is more daring/which car has grip to spare. This was a big + of the f duct for me, seeing a driver have the spare physical and mental capacity to not only remove a hand mid corner, but do so to reduce grip. Thrilling stuff!

Cars and tracks are safer than ever. Let the drivers push the limits a bit!

[Websta]

DRS has to be limited to the zones during qualifying - all it did last year was hand pole position to RBR on a plate as they had the most powerful diffuser. Aside from that, it is just a matter of time until someone goes through 130R with it wide open (or was it banned last year in that section of Suzuka?).

What needs to be fixed are DRS detection points immediately after overtaking zones. For example, Mark Webber couldn't pass Hamilton in Korea with DRS, but when he managed to pass down into turn 1, Hamilton was able to just pass him down the straight as the DRS detection zone is after the turn 1 braking zone. There was a similar problem in Abu Dhabi when drivers passed in the first DRS zone, but were just overtaken in the second zone. In such situations it would be much better if they moved the DRS zone so it is before the braking zone, and then require the driver to be within 1 second of the leading driver both at the DRS detection point and at the start of the DRS zone. This would stop drivers overtaking after the detection point and then still getting to use DRS and would stop leap-frog overtaking.

[raymondu999]

Websta - even the HRTs were having DRS open through 130. McLaren had an ultrapowerful new DRS and didn't open through there if memory serves

[WhiteBlue]

@WhiteBlue, I think there's a general consensus among fans that DRS at least needs some honing. I'm sure you'll excuse the urge to discuss it.

I don't agree with the criticism of DRS in qualifying. In general the DRS zones in the races need to be looked at and tweaked but the matter is in hand at the FiA I believe. DRS restrictions should only apply in the races, not in practise which includes qualifying. Changes for changes sake generally do no good. But this is only my personal opinion. What others do or not do is their affair.

[Websta]

Websta - even the HRTs were having DRS open through 130. McLaren had an ultrapowerful new DRS and didn't open through there if memory serves

Kobayashi spun as a result of running through with his DRS open:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzuF9EjNU9A

He runs wide, but I reckon he would have been fine with his rear wing closed. But at the end of that video you see a Williams go through with his DRS active without any problems, so you're right. I got a bit confused by the video game F12011 where you cannot activate DRS through 130R without upsetting the car. I still think it's pretty dangerous though.