DRS labelled 'fake': 'Like a boxer with a hand behind his back'

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Eddie Jordan would rather see DRS disappear immediately
31 December 2024 at 13:00
  • Corwin Kunst

With the introduction of new regulations in 2026, in which active aerodynamics will play a bigger role, DRS will disappear. 2025 will thus be the last season in which the system will be used. For its critics, like Eddie Jordan, however, that moment cannot come soon enough.

In the Formula For Success podcast, he fiercely criticised the Drag Reduction System, labelling it as "fundamentally flawed" and "stupid". The former team owner even argues that DRS undermines the integrity of the sport.

David Coulthard - as always also present in the podcast - partially agrees with Jordan. He points to the Brazilian Grand Prix, which was run without DRS because of the rain and, according to him, produced a spectacular race. "I personally feel that very often DRS is overly effective in allowing people to overtake. And there used to be a real anticipation of pulling off an overtake and getting an opportunity to do so. So I’d definitely be in favour in reducing the effect of DRS."

'DRS is wrong'

Jordan, however, was even fiercer in his assessment. "Anything that’s contrived, anything that’s false, anything that is put in the place of the story being unfolded in a true, dramatic and honest, correct way, in my opinion, is false. DRS is fundamentally false. It’s false," said the flamboyant Irishman with his usual candor.

Jordan then elaborated that the use of DRS means there is no real fight taking place on the tarmac: "We saw an outrageous race in Brazil. Let’s assume Lando [Norris] goes off. Let’s assume he gets the jump at the start of the race. Lap three, he hasn’t quite broken the one-second mark, and, it can’t be Oscar Piastri, but let’s say it can be anyone else, let’s say it’s [Charles] Leclerc is close enough to him, and he’s got the DRS, and he comes bounding up the hill, and suddenly, bang, and he’s through. For me, that’s not the fight. That’s not a fight."

According to the analyst, using DRS feels like a driver is temporarily disadvantaged. "That’s like having a boxer with one hand tied behind his back for that particular moment, and it’s an unfair advantage, isn’t it? I mean, he hasn’t got all the facilities to be able to defend himself," he said. Ideally, Jordan would like to see the system disappear as early as next year. "I’m of the opinion, if you can’t do it fairly and squarely, which is what we all had to do in your day, David, why punish a good driver in just giving up a spot, because that stupid rule, DRS, is in play. I’m not in favour of it. I’m really sorry. Old fashioned, call me what you like."

This article was written in collaboration with Norberto Mujica

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