The Impact of Drag Reduction System Technology on the Performance of Formula One Cars

Research Article
Open access

The Impact of Drag Reduction System Technology on the Performance of Formula One Cars

Xudong Yang 1*
  • 1 Gentleman Island International Education, Foshan, Guangdong, China, 528311    
  • *corresponding author xudongyang451@gmail.com
ACE Vol.161
ISSN (Print): 2755-273X
ISSN (Online): 2755-2721
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-155-6
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-156-3

Abstract

With the rise of motorsport in recent years, an increasing number of people have turn their attention to this sport. A racing competition is not just a contest of physical strength and strategy. More importantly, it involves the continuously innovative racing car technologies. These technologies not only have an impact on motorsport but also play a significant role in the design and innovation of civilian vehicles. The paper, through a method of literature review, explores the impact of the Drag Reduction System on Formula One cars under different conditions. The paper finds that a Drag Reduction System can improve the performance of a racing car. Specifically, it enhances the vehicle’s straight-line speed by reducing aerodynamic drag, which is particularly crucial in high-speed racing environments where every fraction of a second can make a difference. This improvement in speed not only makes overtaking maneuvers more feasible but also significantly enhances the competitiveness and spectacle of the races. Moreover, the study highlights the strategic importance of DRS in modern Formula One, where its use is governed by specific rules and regulations to ensure fair competition. The findings suggest that while DRS provides a significant performance boost, its effectiveness is contingent upon the driver’s skill and the car’s overall setup, making it a complex yet essential tool in the arsenal of Formula One teams.

Keywords:

Rear wing, Drag Reduction System, Formula car, Pneumatic characteristics

Yang,X. (2025). The Impact of Drag Reduction System Technology on the Performance of Formula One Cars. Applied and Computational Engineering,161,11-16.
Export citation

References

[1]. 《Aerodynamic Design of High-Performance Vehicles》 Wolf-Heinrich Hucho Germany Butterworth-Heinemann 2013

[2]. COMSOL. (2024) Modeling Drag Reduction Systems for Motorsports Using CFD. https://cn.comsol.com/blogs/modeling-drag-reduction-systems-for-motorsports-using-cfd

[3]. 《Race Car Engineering and Mechanics》 Paul Van Valkenburgh United States Dodd, Mead & Company 1976

[4]. Smith, J. (2002) Optimum Design of a Formula One Rear Wing Using a Genetic Algorithm. In: International Design Conference - DESIGN 2002. Dubrovnik. pp. 123-135.

[5]. Performance Drivers Club. (2024) DRS in F1. https://performancedriversclub.org/drs-in-f1/

[6]. Ni, J., Wu, Z.C., Chen, S.Z. (2012) Virtual Experiment on the Influence of Rear Wing Angle of Attack on Formula Car Performance. J. Automot. Eng., 2012: 031.

[7]. F1 Chronicle. (2023) How Does DRS Impact Aerodynamics of Formula 1 Car?. https://f1chronicle.com/how-does-drs-impact-aerodynamics-of-formula-1-car/

[8]. Autosport. (2021) What is DRS in F1 and how does it work?. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/what-is-drs-f1-how-does-it-work/10307184/


Cite this article

Yang,X. (2025). The Impact of Drag Reduction System Technology on the Performance of Formula One Cars. Applied and Computational Engineering,161,11-16.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

Disclaimer/Publisher's Note

The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of EWA Publishing and/or the editor(s). EWA Publishing and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of CONF-MSS 2025 Symposium: Automation and Smart Technologies in Petroleum Engineering

ISBN:978-1-80590-155-6(Print) / 978-1-80590-156-3(Online)
Editor:Mian Umer Shafiq
Conference website: https://2025.confmss.org
Conference date: 21 May 2025
Series: Applied and Computational Engineering
Volume number: Vol.161
ISSN:2755-2721(Print) / 2755-273X(Online)

© 2024 by the author(s). Licensee EWA Publishing, Oxford, UK. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. Authors who publish this series agree to the following terms:
1. Authors retain copyright and grant the series right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this series.
2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the series's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this series.
3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See Open access policy for details).

References

[1]. 《Aerodynamic Design of High-Performance Vehicles》 Wolf-Heinrich Hucho Germany Butterworth-Heinemann 2013

[2]. COMSOL. (2024) Modeling Drag Reduction Systems for Motorsports Using CFD. https://cn.comsol.com/blogs/modeling-drag-reduction-systems-for-motorsports-using-cfd

[3]. 《Race Car Engineering and Mechanics》 Paul Van Valkenburgh United States Dodd, Mead & Company 1976

[4]. Smith, J. (2002) Optimum Design of a Formula One Rear Wing Using a Genetic Algorithm. In: International Design Conference - DESIGN 2002. Dubrovnik. pp. 123-135.

[5]. Performance Drivers Club. (2024) DRS in F1. https://performancedriversclub.org/drs-in-f1/

[6]. Ni, J., Wu, Z.C., Chen, S.Z. (2012) Virtual Experiment on the Influence of Rear Wing Angle of Attack on Formula Car Performance. J. Automot. Eng., 2012: 031.

[7]. F1 Chronicle. (2023) How Does DRS Impact Aerodynamics of Formula 1 Car?. https://f1chronicle.com/how-does-drs-impact-aerodynamics-of-formula-1-car/

[8]. Autosport. (2021) What is DRS in F1 and how does it work?. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/what-is-drs-f1-how-does-it-work/10307184/