DRS in Formula One (F1) stands for “drag reduction system,” a mechanism introduced in 2011 that an F1 driver could use to open a flap on the car’s rear wing to aid in overtaking at designated parts of a circuit during a race, provided that the time interval between it and the car in front was less than one second. Opening the flap reduced drag (air resistance that opposes a car’s forward motion) and gave the vehicle a straight-line speed boost, making overtaking easier. Following significant changes in F1 regulations ahead of the 2026 season, DRS was replaced by a new aerodynamics system (X and Z modes) that gives drivers the ability to manipulate both the front and the rear wings of the car at designated parts of the track to control drag, even if there is no car to overtake. Overtaking assistance is provided by a battery-powered system that allows drivers to harvest and use electric energy for a speed boost, as long as they are within one second of the car they want to overtake.
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