DRS stands for Drag Reduction System. It is a moveable flap on the rear wing of a Formula 1 car that can be opened to reduce drag and increase straight-line speed by roughly 10–15 km/h. Drivers can only use DRS when they are within one second of the car ahead at a designated detection point on the circuit. DRS zones are marked on every circuit. It was introduced in 2011 to help drivers overtake by giving the chasing car a temporary speed advantage.
Example: He’s within a second at the detection point — the DRS is open and he’s flying down the straight!
DRS only works in designated zones on the circuit — drivers cannot activate it whenever they like. Outside DRS zones, the flap remains closed regardless of the gap to the car ahead.
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