DRS Zone

A DRS Zone is a designated section of a race track where drivers can activate their Drag Reduction System (DRS) to temporarily increase their car's straight-line speed and make overtaking easier.

In Formula 1 and some other motorsport series, DRS Zones are marked areas, typically on long straights, where drivers are allowed to open a flap on their rear wing. When this flap opens, it reduces the air resistance (drag) on the car, allowing it to go faster. Think of it like opening a parachute backwards—instead of slowing you down, closing part of your wing helps you speed up.

Not every driver can use DRS whenever they want during a race. To activate the system in a DRS Zone, a driver must be within one second of the car in front of them at a specific measuring point called the detection zone. Electronic sensors measure this gap automatically. If you're close enough, a light on your steering wheel tells you that DRS is available to use.

Once a driver enters the activation zone—the actual DRS Zone where they can use the system—they press a button on their steering wheel. The rear wing flap opens, drag decreases, and the car accelerates faster down the straight. The flap automatically closes when the driver brakes or lifts their foot off the accelerator, restoring normal downforce for cornering.

Different race tracks have different numbers of DRS Zones. Most circuits feature two or three zones, though some tracks like Monaco have just one, while others like Melbourne have four. The governing body, the FIA, decides where to place these zones based on track layout and safety considerations.

During practice sessions and qualifying, drivers can use DRS freely in any designated zone without needing to be close to another car. This helps them achieve their fastest lap times. However, during races, the one-second rule applies to prevent drivers from having an unfair advantage when running alone.

DRS cannot be used in dangerous conditions. When it's raining or the track is wet, race officials disable the system for safety. It's also turned off during the first two laps of a race and immediately after safety car periods to prevent accidents when cars are bunched together.

The system was introduced to Formula 1 in 2011 to solve a problem: modern race cars create turbulent air behind them, making it extremely difficult for following cars to get close enough to overtake. DRS gives the chasing driver a speed boost to overcome this disadvantage and create more exciting racing.

While DRS Zones have increased overtaking opportunities, some fans and drivers debate whether they make passing too easy or artificial. Regardless, they remain a fundamental part of modern Formula 1 racing strategy and are planned for use through 2025, when they'll be replaced by a new active aerodynamics system.