The 2022 single-seaters were conceived with a very specific purpose: to make it easier for those who follow to keep up and offer more exciting battles. But although Formula 1 has placed a potential deadly weapon in the hands of the drivers, there is still some doubt about the characteristic that least of all has been affected by the so-called "revolution": the DRS
We are seeing that the new cars are a first step in this direction at the start of the season. However, Formula 1 continues to rely heavily on the use of mobile wings, as, especially on certain circuits, without them it would be really difficult to overtake. Tracks like Melbourne, like Imola, without DRS, would probably degenerate into a procession.
The DRS remains a controversial presence in F1. Introduced in 2011 as a solution to increase overtaking, it has proved effective but unpopular given the unchallenged frequency of overtaking. Although the abolition of the DRS is one of the next objectives of the category, in Melbourne, the third stage of the 2022 world championship, these will even be increased to 4, thus covering 45% of the circuit.
The duels between Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc in particular have excited the fans and fueled the controversy over DRS yes and DRS no, given that, both in Bahrain and in Jeddah, the DRS has been exploited to its advantage by one or the other pilot. In both cases, the driver who took advantage of this was the one who made strategic use of the DRS zones. And it is precisely this strategic battle that excites some of the drivers, who are called upon to duel in a more intelligent way, almost as if they were playing a game of chess. In particular, Charles said he was in favor of this solution and the way it fits in with the new single-seaters: “The DRS still has to stay, otherwise the races would be very boring. Of course it's good for us drivers and for the sport that the cars can now track each other better, but that's not enough for us to do without DRS completely. It will remain part of Formula 1.” Charles said.
In Melbourne it is difficult to know how these areas will be exploited given the recent layout change but having the DRS in turn 9-10 could result in an important advantage and if in Jeddah we saw Charles and Max nailing to have the DRS at the last corner well let's wait the same here too. This is also because in Australia there is no space to fight back. The configuration of the track, in fact, does not lend itself to the game of overtaking in succession. Although there are two zones close together, there is no DRS survey point dividing them. Therefore, if an overtaking is made using the DRS in the first zone, the driver who has been overtaken will not be able to benefit from the DRS to attack in the next zone but will be forced to follow.
The new regulation will be severely tested in Australia, as will the modified track at Albert Park which wants to return in style and give emotions.
