FIA vows to rid F1 of 'necessary evil' DRS

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It won't happen until 2021, but the FIA is hoping Formula 1's future cars won't include a Drag Reduction System to help enhance overtaking.

Nikolas Tombazis, the governing body's technical chief, has been working with F1 sporting manager Ross Brawn and his team of experts, led by former Williams tech boss Pat Symonds, on devising the sport's 2021 rules.

Brawn has often voiced is opposition to DRS which was introduced in 2011, and Tombazis agrees that the device should eventually be discarded in the future.

"It is right that there's this underlying discomfort with DRS, and I share it as well," said Tombazis.

"I know Ross has made similar comments, and so on. We feel that DRS is the right thing to have in the present state of things.

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"And for 2021 we hope that the cars will be much more able to follow each other closely, and it will be a really nice outcome if we can severely decrease DRS in the future, or even eliminate it.

"But until we get in a position where we are comfortable enough with the wake performance and how cars can follow each other I think it's something that I would call a necessary evil perhaps at the moment."

On the run-up to 2021, the DRS will actually play an even more important role as an overtaking aid destined to improve the racing.

"The DRS effect will increase by approximately 25-30%," Tombazis added.

"The delta of the drag of the car when it opens the DRS and deploys it to current will be bigger, so the delta of speed of the following car will be bigger by that amount as a result.

"Hence the probability that approaching the front car will increase."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.