Brown in favor of Formula 1 retaining DRS in 2022

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McLaren Racing boss Zak Brown believes Formula 1's all-new 2022 cars should retain their DRS, at least until the impact of the sport's new regulations on overtaking has been properly gauged.

Grand Prix racing will usher in a new era next year following an overhaul of F1's technical regulations. The sport's new code and provisions have been designed first and foremost to simplify a car's aerodynamics in a bid to improve overtaking and ultimately the spectacle on the track.

Teams are currently in the unknown regarding the presence or not of F1's Drag Reduction System on next year's cars, and the sport's 2022 profile car that was presented last month at Silverstone did not include a rear wing actuator.

But Brown insists the proof will be in the pudding about whether next season's designs will effectively boost overtaking. At the outset, the McLaren would prefer for F1 to retain DRS.

"What I’ve been told, both within my team and from others, is that everyone believes it will work," said Brown, quoted by Motorsport-Total, referring to the potential for next year's design to boost overtaking in F1.

"But we won’t know until we get on the track, so I think it’s a good idea to keep DRS for now.

"Then we should - like with sprint qualifying - let the cars go and see did it work as planned, does it need adjustments, do they need DRS, do we need it for a shorter or longer period of time?

"We initially only work with data and drawings and visual aids. But until we are on the track, we don’t know."

Read also: McLaren investment in IndyCar will 'benefit' F1 team - Brown

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff says DRS has proven effective and useful in F1 since its introduction in 2011, and will continue to be a "fantastic" tool until drivers can follow each other more closely.

"DRS was introduced because the cars were so aerodynamically efficient and so close in terms of performance that you couldn’t follow," said Wolff.

"It’s an aerodynamic tool that I think has made the sport more attractive. But in the future, when you can follow better again, then DRS is superfluous.

"Today, however, it is a fantastic part of the show."

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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.