It may be proving popular amongst spectators, but the new Drag Reduction System has been described as ‘too dangerous’ by former Formula 1 driver Olivier Panis.
The system – which has been used in the opening three races of the 2011 season – was designed to assist overtaking, thus making a race more exciting than ever before.
This was certainly the case in the recent Chinese Grand Prix, with the DRS assisting Red Bull’s Mark Webber as he stormed from 18th to 3rd in Shanghai. It also allowed Lewis Hamilton’s ambitious overtaking to become more realistic as he won his first Grand Prix of 2011.
However, as entertaining as it can make a race, Panis believes that it gives drivers too much to do with their steering wheel, increasing the risk of accidents in the process.
The Frenchman said: ‘There are too many things for the driver to be doing on the steering wheel now. Compared with what they did before, I think it’s more dangerous and I don’t feel good about this philosophy.’
‘If one time the system doesn’t work it’s going to be pretty dangerous, particularly in a high-speed corner. I don’t think F1 needs these types of new things.’
The new system has certainly had its critics with various drivers admitting that they still need to get used to it, but overall it does seem to have been a success in terms of adding something new and exciting to the sport.
Panis continued his criticism though, complaining: ‘If you want to have some overtaking like in China, you need to do it with the circuit; if you put a hairpin before a long straight, for sure you will have overtaking. But all these kinds of things, I don’t like them at all.’
Reaction to the 44-year-old’s comments has been mixed. Although many agree that changes to the circuits are needed to take the sport forward, others point out that the start to the 2011 season has been one of the best in many years and the DRS would have contributed to this.
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