Formula 1 is enjoying a massive uplift in popularity with a stunning title battle and accompanying Formula 1: Drive to Survive action making the sport more exciting and accessible for casual viewers than ever.
However, technical jargon can still be a stumbling block for those seeking to immerse themselves in their new favourite Sunday afternoon hobby.
DRS is a term thrown around by F1 presenters on Sky constantly throughout races, but what does it actually mean? And how does it affect racing action?
RadioTimes.com brings you a full explainer as to what ‘DRS’ means in Formula 1 to help you get to grips with the sport in 2022.
Check out more F1 features: F1 on TV | F1 calendar 2022 | F1 salaries 2022 | F1 drivers and teams 2022
What does DRS stand for?
DRS stands for Drag Reduction System – a system that was introduced to the sport back in 2011 in order to promote overtaking.
It acts like a boost or an aid for drivers to safely overtake a competitor when they are close by.
The system can only be used in specially designated DRS activation zones (usually one or two zones per race) and is only used when a driver is within one second of the car in front.
To activate the system, the driver simply pushes a button which opens up a section of the rear wing, which reduces aerodynamic drag and increases the straight-line speed of the car.
This makes it possible for the driver to quickly make up ground on the car just in front of them at a faster pace than normal thus allowing them to overtake, while the car in front is not allowed to use DRS, unless they themselves have an interval of less than a second to the car in front of them.
DRS is the only part of the car’s body that can be adjusted in the middle of a race, as per regulations brought in in 2013.
There are a few other restrictions on the use of DRS in Formula 1, including that it cannot be activated on the first two laps after the race start, while there are some situations where the race director may decide to disallow its use for a specific race if conditions are judged to be unsafe.