Autosport – 25 July 2019

HAVE YOUR SAY, GET IN TOUCH

OPINION PIT + PADDOCK

25 JULY 2019 AUTOSPORT.COM 15

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In praise of the drag reduction system
I note that the proposed 2021 F1 regulations, in encouraging
means of overtaking without so-called ‘artificial aids’, look
to have dispensed with the DRS system, as one might expect.
I recognise that I may be alone in expressing this, but
I’m actually a quiet fan of DRS. While a DRS overtake
pre-braking zone is clearly something of a non-event,
I am nevertheless an overt fan of overtaking (as opposed
to no overtaking whatsoever!).
Watching some of the ‘classic’ races broadcast on Sky
has proven a timely reminder that in the 1980, 1990s or
2000s often-times a car circulating as little as three tenths
of a second behind another was compelled to stay there for
the duration. Yet part of the enjoyment my two young sons
and I take from contemporary F1 is keeping half an eye on
the timing information on the left-hand side of the broadcast,
in order to see if anyone is approaching being within DRS
range or not... which in itself provides something of a
pre-anticipation, if you will.
It is with some dismay that I also note the return of
in-race refuelling as a pitlane discussion topic once more.
Seriously, again!? How many times does this have to be
suggested and dismissed before we are able to query the
short-term memory of the F1 community?
At the last try, convergent refuelling strategies led to
an absence of on-track overtaking and very little tactical
variation. I’d take DRS over refuelling any time.
Tim Ferrone
By email

Hatching a plan to improve the show
Refuelling to improve the show? Ask Jos Verstappen and
Felipe Massa about that. Maybe during a pitstop, after the
rear jack man drops the car and before the driver gets the
green light to go, the rear jack man has to grab a dessert
spoon on which is balanced a fresh egg. They then run
anti-clockwise around the car, back to their starting position
and press a button to signify finishing this part of the pitstop.

Watching some of the ‘classic’ races on Sky has proven a timely reminder that a car

circulating closely behind another was compelled to stay there for the duration

TIM FERRONE

If the egg is dropped they have to return to the back of

the car and take another egg all the way around before the

driver can be released. This will bring in another variable

where mistakes can be made but without putting the

driver or pit crew at risk.

Costs of this development can be held in check by

having a standard FIA-approved spoon issued to all teams

and stating in the rules that it should be a chicken’s egg.

Brian McCausland

Portishead

Join the ‘non-coverage’ club

I read Simon Scott’s letter about the lack of coverage

of the grand prix at Silverstone with interest (18 July).

My immediate reaction was, welcome to the club! I, like

hundreds of thousands of others, regularly attend superb

feats of endurance at Les Vingt-Quatre Heures du Mans,

only to return to find two column inches, if you’re lucky,

in the sports sections of the broadsheets.

At least Autosport gives all events good coverage.

Andrew Napier

By email

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