Ex-F1 team boss SLAMS ‘artificial’ DRS for ruining racing

Former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan was unhappy with the way current overtaking is promoted with the aid of 'artificial' DRS.

Ex-F1 team boss SLAMS ‘artificial’ DRS for ruining racing

F1 Austrian GP, image via IMAGO

Drag Reduction System(DRS) has been a part of F1 since 2011. It was brought in to counter the effect of turbulent air affecting the following car’s aerodynamics by giving them a helping hand. However, Ex-F1 team owner Eddie Jordan has never been a fan of the aerodynamic device and blamed it for ruining racing and making it artificial.

F1 drivers are known for their ruthless attitude on the racetrack. This is showcased by brilliant maneuvers by drivers to overtake other rivals. On the other hand, as the aerodynamic elements of an F1 car developed to become more complex, the dirty air left behind for the following car was worsened.

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To counteract this, the sport introduced DRS to aid drivers in leapfrogging slower competition with ease. However, this change was not commended by various parts of the paddock.

Including, Eddie Jordan, who has never been in favor of DRS staying in the sport and wants the mechanism to be done away with.

Everything that is artificial, everything that is false, everything that is put in place of the story that unfolds in a real, dramatic, honest, and correct way, in my opinion, is false. The DRS is basically false. It’s fake, it’s like having a boxer with a hand tied behind his back at a certain moment.

Eddie Jordan said on Formula For Success podcast

On the other hand, DRS has been responsible for F1 cars reaching blazing high speeds of above 220 mph. While some may argue that the DRS mechanism goes against the racing spirit, it has helped the sport go above and beyond in pushing and exceeding its boundaries.

David Coulthard follows suit with Eddie Jordan

With Jordan being of the opinion that DRS should be removed immediately owing to its nature, his co-host and former F1 driver David Coulthard also did not shy away from asserting his views. He has driven F1 machinery equipped with DRS for Red Bull‘s showrun’s and has experience racing F1 cars before the rule was enacted.

Eddie Jordan and David Coulthard
Eddie Jordan and David Coulthard, image via PlanetF1

Following in line with his pal, Coulthard shared a similar opinion. He revealed his thoughts about the mechanism and wanted to reduce its effect to promote raw racing.

So I personally feel that very often DRS is overly effective in allowing people to overtake. And there used to be a real anticipation of pulling off an overtake and getting an opportunity to do so. So I’d definitely be in favour of reducing the effect of DRS.

David Coulthard said on Formula For Success podcast

Despite the pair’s concerns, the FIA is not keen on totally doing away with DRS. Regardless of the introduction of the 2026 regulations, with a major emphasis on promoting racing, DRS is understood to remain in the sport for a while longer. So, drivers would have a mechanism at their disposal to increase their chances of overtaking for at least a few more years.