Leclerc says new F1 cars still 'better off' with DRS

Charles Leclerc reckons Formula 1 could perhaps tweak its Drag Reduction System to make it less powerful, but the Ferrari driver says the device remains indispensable for drivers.

After the first two races of the 2022 season, most drivers agree that Formula 1's new regulations have achieved their main mandate, which is to allow cars to follow each other more closely to facilitate overtaking.

But DRS was a prominent feature in Bahrain and in Jeddah, and a handy strategic tool opportunistically relied upon by both Leclerc and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix winner Max Verstappen.

"I think without DRS passing would be reduced significantly," Leclerc said after last Sunday's race. "So I think we are still better off with DRS.

"What we might need to consider maybe is the speed delta that there is with the DRS might be a bit too much, which gives the car behind maybe too much of a speed delta [so] that sometimes the overtake is done before the braking.

"And you’d much rather have the two cars battling under braking rather than passing like in the highway.

"Now, that is sometimes what can happen. So maybe we need to have a look at this, but we definitely need DRS nowadays."

• Read also: 'Smart tricks' helped Verstappen outrace Leclerc in Jeddah

Leclerc led the most laps in Jeddah, but the Scuderia charger was up against a strong set of forces in the closing stages of the races represented by Verstappen and the top speed of the Red Bull drivers RB18.

However, the Dutchman believes he would not have been able to gain an upper hand over his Ferrari rival without the benefit of DRS.

"If I didn’t have DRS today I would have never passed," said Verstappen. "I think we are still too sensitive for that.

"And of course, some tracks are easier to pass than others. But for me at the moment, if DRS wouldn’t be there, I would have been second today."

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