When Formula 1 (F1) bids farewell to Drag Reduction System (DRS) after the 2025 season, it won’t just be the end of a gadget — it signals a major shift in how overtaking, racing, and on-track drama are created. Here’s why the sport is dropping DRS and what it hopes to gain.
What Was DRS — and Why It Worked
DRS was introduced to solve a major issue in F1: when a car follows closely behind another, turbulent “dirty air” reduces downforce and makes overtaking difficult. DRS allowed the trailing car to open a flap on its rear wing in designated zones, reducing drag and increasing straight-line speed if within one second of the car ahead.
For years, DRS delivered:
-
Easier overtakes on straights
-
More strategic racing, especially on tracks with limited passing spots
-
A solution to the aerodynamic wake problem
DRS wasn’t perfect, but it was effective at its job — at least for a time.
Why DRS Has Become a Problem
As regulations evolved, DRS started to lose relevance:
-
Overtaking became too artificial — critics argued that some passes felt too easy, reducing the role of driver skill.
-
DRS trains formed — when several cars followed each other with DRS enabled, overtaking became harder instead of easier.
-
Modern cars rely more on ground-effect — with smaller rear wings and reduced drag, the DRS boost is weaker than before. In some races, drivers reported that “DRS had practically no effect.”
DRS stopped being a clever fix and became a blunt tool in a rapidly evolving sport.
What Will Replace DRS — And Why It’s Better
Starting in 2026, F1 won’t simply drop DRS — it will replace it with active aerodynamics and a stronger hybrid electric boost.
Here’s what’s coming:
-
Active aero wings
Drivers will switch between two aero modes:-
A low-drag “straight-line” mode
-
A high-downforce “cornering” mode
-
-
Manual electric override (push-to-pass)
The new hybrid power units offer a bigger electric boost, giving the chasing car a real power advantage instead of relying on aero tricks.
Together, these systems aim to create racing that’s less about pressing a button and more about managing energy, timing, skill, and aerodynamic balance.
What This Means for Fans
✔ More authentic racing
Overtakes should rely more on skill and strategy — not just the availability of a DRS zone.
✔ Better strategic depth
Active aero and hybrid boost introduce new tactical decisions: when to deploy, how much energy to save, and how to set up the car.
✔ Cars designed to race, not patched to race
The new regulations focus on fixing the core aerodynamic problems, not compensating for them.
Will overtaking be harder on some circuits? Possibly. But the hope is that moves will feel more earned — and more exciting.
DRS played its role for over a decade. It helped F1 transition through an era of high-downforce cars that struggled to follow each other. But as the sport evolves, so must the tools it uses.
By removing DRS and embracing active aerodynamics and enhanced hybrid systems, F1 is aiming for a future where overtaking feels natural, thrilling, and rooted in driver ability. If successful, 2026 could mark the start of a new golden age for wheel-to-wheel racing.