The three-letter abbreviation for Formula 1’s rear-wing overtaking aid is DRS, short for Drag Reduction System. It reduces aerodynamic drag by opening a movable flap in the rear wing, allowing a following car to gain speed on a straight.
Formula 1 introduced DRS in 2011 as an exception to the usual ban on movable aerodynamic bodywork. Its use was restricted to designated activation zones and, for much of its F1 history, required the pursuing driver to be within one second of the car ahead at a detection point.
DRS is often confused with KERS, ERS, or ABS. KERS and ERS concern energy recovery and electrical power, while ABS is an anti-lock braking system; none names the rear-wing flap. In 2026, Formula 1 regulations replaced the traditional DRS concept with active aerodynamics, but DRS remains the canonical name for the overtaking system used from 2011 through 2025.