The FIA has restricted the usage of Drag Reduction System (DRS) in Formula 1 from 2013. It means that the drivers will be allowed to deploy DRS only in the official zone even during the free practice and qualifiers.
Since introduction in 2011, drivers were free to use DRS on any part of the circuit all through Friday and Saturday. However, the new rule has been introduced by FIA citing safety “safety reasons”. Formula 1 race director, Charlie Whiting, believes that the free usage of DRS in practice and qualifying is responsible for many crashes.
"We are going to prohibit the use of DRS in practice and qualifying except in the areas where it's going to be used in the race," Whiting was quoted as saying by BBC Sport.
"We're doing that for safety reasons. We believe there have been a number of incidents and drivers have told me it is becoming increasingly prevalent.
"We didn't want to have it in practice and qualifying before but we were worried we would not have effective DRS systems. Now all the information we have is that we will not see any reduction in the power of the DRS."
