Drivers say rule changes had positive effect in F1

Many drivers and teams were skeptical of the DRS when it was first announced, saying that passing would become too artificial, and some still think it has made overtaking too easy in many occasions. FIA has said the system was a success, although it admits some minor changes are ahead in the coming years.

“Obviously there have been races where you think it’s too easy to overtake, there is always going to be negatives to something like that,” Button said. “But the positives outweigh the negatives. I think we’ve had some great racing this season on circuits where we never had overtaking before, especially with two competitive cars. You can have a bit more of a fight now.”

The rear wing cannot be used over the first two laps for safety reasons, but KERS _ which debuted in 2009 but was temporarily abandoned last year _ was available throughout this season. The system stores kinetic energy generated in breaking, allowing drivers to transform that energy into more power for a few seconds at the push of a button.

Pirelli replaced Bridgestone as the series’ sole tire provider and introduced compounds that brought in-race strategy back to F1. It deliberately designed tires that degraded more quickly, prompting an increase in pit stops and in the number of strategy options.

“Pirelli has done a good job to help (racing),” Williams driver Rubens Barrichello said. “Together with the DRS and the KERS, I think the show has improved. Let’s hope that’s the way Formula One is going to be for the long term.”

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