Tech Explainer
How a 65mm slot in the rear wing adds 10-14 km/h of top speed — and why F1 is replacing it with something far more sophisticated in 2026.
DRS Closed — Standard Configuration
01
Every F1 car rear wing is a balance between two conflicting demands: downforce (for grip in corners) and low drag (for top speed on straights). A wing steep enough for Monaco would cost 30 km/h at Monza. The wing you run at Monza leaves you sliding wide at every apex in Monaco. Engineers pick a compromise — and accept the loss.
02
When DRS activates, a hydraulic actuator rotates the rear wing's upper flap approximately 8-10° upward. This opens a 65mm slot between the upper flap and the main plane. High-pressure air from above bleeds through the slot onto the flap's suction surface, killing the flow separation that was generating downforce — and drag. The wing effectively unloads.
03
The FIA designates detection points and DRS activation zones at every circuit. A driver is eligible to open DRS only if they are within 1.0 second of the car ahead when crossing the detection sensor. In wet conditions or safety car periods, DRS is disabled centrally. The chasing car gains the advantage; the car being chased cannot respond in kind.
04
Open DRS reduces the car's drag coefficient by approximately 0.10 Cd — roughly 20% of total drag at typical race speeds. On a 1 km straight at 300 km/h, that translates to 10-14 km/h additional top speed. The deficit closes, the pass becomes possible. At Monza, where terminal speeds approach 360 km/h, gains can reach 15+ km/h.
05
The 2025 season is DRS's last. From 2026, F1 cars have fully moveable front and rear wing elements — driver-controlled throughout the lap, not restricted to zones. A new FIA "override mode" replicates the 1-second proximity rule for true overtaking situations. The underlying logic is the same; the execution is fundamentally different.
DRS Closed — Standard Configuration
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Continue exploring
How sculpted tunnels under the car use the Venturi principle to generate more downforce than wings — while leaving a cleaner wake that makes overtaking possible.
5 interactive steps · Interactive diagram
How 2026's moveable front and rear wings replace DRS with something fundamentally different — driver-controlled aerodynamic balance throughout every lap, not just on designated straights.
5 interactive steps · Interactive diagram
The first aerodynamic contact point. Manages airflow over, under, and around the front of the car while generating downforce and directing air to critical downstream components.
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