Back in 2011, Formula 1 introduced the Drag Reduction System, DRS, an overtaking aid that allowed a driver to reduce the aerodynamic drag on the rear wing to increase the car\u2019s top speed.<\/p>\n
It was polarising, with history buffs calling it artificial while others celebrated more exciting racing. But on Tuesday, the final press of the DRS button was pushed.<\/p>\n
Alas DRS\u2019s final moment in F1 did not result in an overtake<\/p>\n
The introduction of DRS gave a major boost to overtaking, allowing a driver in the slipstream to gain up to 10\u201312 km\/h simply by opening the movable rear wing.<\/p>\n
Back in 2011, 2009 World Champion Jenson Button was the first to push, well, the button, doing so at the 2011 Spanish Grand Prix.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, with F1 set to say goodbye to DRS, the now Sky pundit said he wished to the last driver to activate DRS.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust put me in a car so I can be the last person to push the DRS button as well. I feel like it should come full circle,\u201d Button said on the Sky F1 Show.<\/p>\n
Button didn\u2019t get his wish, that honour going to Mercedes\u2019 Kimi Antonelli.<\/p>\n
Farewell, DRS \ud83e\udee1<\/p>\n
Kimi Antonelli is the last F1 driver to open the rear wing\u2026 he was just four years old when Jenson became the first driver to press the DRS Button \ud83d\ude09#F1<\/a> #AbuDhabiGP<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/da1mB2azJF<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Formula 1 (@F1) December 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Chasing down Yuki Tsunoda at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Antonelli activated the rear wing flap as he closed in on the Red Bull driver on the final lap.<\/p>\n Alas, DRS\u2019s final hurrah did not result in an overtake with Antonelli crossing the line 0.6s down on Fsunoda.<\/p>\n So long, old friend \u2764\ufe0f DRS 2011-2025 \ud83d\ude4f pic.twitter.com\/Da8mytcigs<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) December 5, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n In 2026, DRS will be replaced by a new system for overtaking called Manual Override Mode (MOM). <\/p>\n Explaining MOM, FIA\u2019s single seater technical director Jan Monchaux said: \u201c[When] you enter the straight and the car is fairly close to the other to help the overtaking \u2013 since both cars will have rear wing open and front wing flap open \u2013 we are going to allow the car behind to deploy more electrical energy for a given portion of time during that lap.<\/p>\n \u201cRight now with the DRS you are behind a car, within a second, that ticks a box and you are allowed to open your DRS in a straight line. This will not be the case anymore. However, the logic will be the same: I\u2019m close enough to another car, I am given an extra amount of energy for that one lap, which I can deploy any way I want.<\/p>\n \u201cThe extra amount of energy is defined and that will give that boost of energy to eventually give the following car a chance to overtake by the end of the straight.\u201d<\/p>\n Read next: Ferrari and Mercedes offer us our first glimpse of F1 in 2026\u2026<\/a><\/p>\n