The FIA appears to be prepared to shorten some DRS zones in Formula One in 2023 due to concerns that overtaking has become too simple at a number of venues.
This year, a new generation of ground-effect cars was introduced with the intention of making racing more exciting by enabling drivers to run closer together, which would increase opportunities for overtaking.
However, the DR’s offset between closed and open became significantly stronger throughout 2022, almost guaranteeing drivers a pass at some tracks once they were within range.
The FIA is likely to examine the data from this year in order to shorten some of the activation zones for the upcoming season because of the ease with which some of the DRS overtakes were performed.
Nikolas Tombazis, the single-seater technical director for the FIA, has made it abundantly clear that a driver guaranteed to overtake while within DRS range is just as bad for the spectacle as faster cars behind being unable to pass.
When Autosport asked Tombazis if there would be any changes for 2023, he responded, We may need to actually reduce the DRS zones in some races.
We don’t want to overtake to be easy or, as we say, inevitable. There must still be a struggle.
“It’s actually worse than being at the back fighting if it happens too quickly if you just see a car approaching and then going by and disappearing. There must be just the right balance.
Ross Brawn, the incoming managing director of motorsport for Formula One, stated last month that he did not want the sport’s leaders to be afraid to make DRS maneuvers more difficult.
In an exclusive interview, he stated to Autosport, “The one thing we know is fans, and we know this because we don’t like it: they don’t like the “go down the straight, pop the DRS, overtake, drive fast, pull a gap” all of that.”
In an ideal world, “I think DRS is used just to get on someone’s back,” so you can really have a good attack.
He continued: I figure we ought not to be reluctant to decrease the DRS in places like Monza, on the grounds that it appears to be a messed with ‘you get on the rear of them, press the button, surpass.’ Isn’t it a little ritualistic?
It is not all that impressive. Therefore, in situations where it is evident that DRS is proving to be too effective, we should not be afraid to reduce its use.