In what year was DRS introduced in Formula One?

DRS was introduced in Formula One in 2011.

The Drag Reduction System is an adjustable flap in the rear wing. When activated in an authorised zone, it reduces aerodynamic drag and increases straight-line speed, helping a following car attempt an overtake. Its introduction was part of a wider 2011 rules package that also brought back Pirelli as the tyre supplier and aimed to improve racing.

During races, DRS was initially restricted to a car running within one second of the vehicle ahead at a detection point. Drivers could then open the flap in designated activation zones, usually on a straight. The system was freely available in practice and qualifying in its early years, although later regulations imposed additional limits.

DRS did not replace KERS, which was also reintroduced in 2011; the two systems could work together. It is sometimes confused with earlier movable-aerodynamic experiments, but the regulated rear-wing system now known as DRS began with the 2011 Formula One season. The system was used through 2025 before new 2026 aerodynamic regulations replaced it.