I can't quite remember the exact details but I think it was Massa and Rosberg. Shall I expand on that? ok In the Turkish grand prix there was a point when I think it was Rosberg being pressured by Massa. Rosbergs tyres were near the end of their use but Massa's weren't. Advantage Massa. My memory may be making this up but Massa just got past Rosberg into turns 9 and 10. As it so happend this meant Massa got past him just before the DRS detection zone meaning Rosberg was well within 1 second of Massa. Therefore Rosberg had a very good slipstream all the way to turn 12 and he had the DRS and so he retook the place. Do you think it is possible that in future grand prix drivers who are being pressured may risk using DRS defensively in the same style? eg use all the KERS to stay ahead for the rest of the lap and then let the faster driver past just before the DRS detection zone so they have a strong slipstream and DRS to retake/net-keep their position?
Its an interesting theory, but I guess the slower driver has to be sure of making it stick. It would probably depend on the advantage DRS brings. In turkey, DRS was perhaps a greater advantage than it needed to be, but in races like Australia it was about right. In turkey, yes, it might be possible, but the tactic wouldn't work in Australia. The driver also has to be really confident in nailing the place time after time too.
It would be taking a huge risk as its going to be a one shot kind of move. If the DRS zone was after a slow speed (i.e. mechanical grip) corner then it wouldn't be possible on old tyres, in my opinion. DHCanary also brings up the valid point of the DRS zone having varying degrees of effectiveness at various tracks. Would be interesting if it did become a well used move though
I was thinking about this before the season, such as if two car are close together nearing the end of the race will the car behind just sit there and wait until the last lap and in the DRS zone pass the car in front, I also wondered as you have said if drivers will start allowing closely following cars to pass them just before the DRS zone I remember in Malaysia Button said something about how he thought Petrov braked early to allow him passed just before the DRS zone so Petrov could use his DRS against Button.
Yes sea-man! it is definitely something a driver should consider if the circumstances present this type of opportunity. This is one of the possible results of limiting DRS to one particular zone. If it was allowed anywhere on the track (still within 1 second of the driver ahead), it could be a lot more fun!
Where it is possible they wouldn't do it twice, would they? I mean the chasing driver wouldn't take that opportunity to get past the slower car before the DRS zone next lap round if it gave up the DRS advantage - he'd just wait for the DRS zone. Fool me once and all that.
There's a logic in what you say Genji. In reality, I think this will usually make very little difference to the racing, but it could happen at one or two circuits (Hungary springs to mind). Once again, it is an argument for not having only one 'power up pad'…
All this speculation about overtaking twice by pushing a button. If only it could be done without artificial means.
No. This theory was going around before the start of the season. How would you surrender your place? If you backed out of the throttle you'd get raped on the straight, DRS or no DRS.
sea-man, The tactic you are describing could work, but I don't see many drivers attempting it. In my opinion, the success of the move is dependent on two things: 1. DRS Activation The last few races have shown that when the DRS is activated at high speed, the sudden increase in speed allows the driver behind to easily catch up and overtake, as seen in China and Turkey. In this case, it might not be a bad idea to try let the faster driver past, and then use DRS to re-take the position, although as with any overtake, it involves risk. When the DRS is activated at lower speeds (Malaysia and Australia), the overtake is more difficult and there is no guarantee that the driver will even be able to overtake. 2. Tyre Condition Before any driver should even consider trying something so tactical, I think the state of their tyres relative to the other driver should be taken into account. As we have already seen this year, a few laps difference with the tyres makes all the difference with regard to grip level and if the driver under pressure has much older tyres, it's not worth trying it.
Its a good point about the tyres Jose, Ive also thought the main problem with the tactic would be having to brake earlier than the car with the grip. It will be interesting to see someone try it though on a high speed exit to DRS zone. Of course the driver will look like an idiot if it fails and a hero if it works
Hmm, I think deliberately braking early could be incredibly dangerous. Theres no brakelight on an F1 car, the driver behind could easily plough into the back of your car, ending both of your races. On a high speed corner you'd need full throttle out of it just to make sure you're anywhere near the other car.
I don't mean deliberately braking several meters too early but for example surely a car on old tyres would have to break a little earlier than the other car in the team on fresh tyres
Not even brake, just lift - enough to let the chasing car through but not enough to drop too far behind them. We often see lapped cars staying with the car that's lapping them down a straight as they pick up the slipstream.
Even lifting unexpectedly is dangerous too though, remember Hamilton running into the back of Alonso in Bahrain 2008?
I suppose it would depend on the track and where the DRS timing zone is, in Malaysia it would be easy to do because you could just lift a bit going down the back straight or even brake slightly early, whereas in Barcelona it would be much harder because of the chicane.
Actually having looked into it further, rather than my foggy memory, apparently Hamiltons front wing broke prior to the incident, and so the reduced drag sucked him into the back of Alonso. So thats probably not the best example.
it may be a useful technique if the front driver makes a mistake (but his tyres are fine) to let the chase driver past so they are not a sitting duck in the DRS zone.
