what is drs in formula 1

DRS stands for Drag Reduction System, and it is a driver-controlled device aimed at aiding overtaking and increasing the chances of wheel-to-wheel racing in Formula 1. The system involves the driver opening a flap in their rear wing to reduce drag levels and gain top speed when running within a second of a car in front. The DRS uses an actuator controlling a flap in the middle of an F1 car’s rear wing that can be opened by the push of a button on the steering wheel. Drivers can only use the system after they have entered a designated part of the track, referred to as DRS ‘Activation’ zones. The open flap reduces the rear wing’s surface area, which sheds a lot of downforce but also a lot of drag when active. The DRS increases the car speed between 10 and 30 kilometers an hour, increasing the chance of overtaking a slower car. DRS can be used by a driver who is within one second of the car ahead.