Montoya: The DRS “is like giving Photoshop to Picasso”
During a long interview with The Racer's Edge, Juan-Pablo Montoya expressed his opinions on DRS and is not really a fan of this device.
Retired from the Formula 1 paddock since 2006, Juan-Pablo Montoya continues to be a keen observer of the sport. Returning this season to his first love, as he is racing again in the IndyCar championship after eight seasons in NASCAR, he shares his perspective on one of the elements recently introduced in F1 to enhance the spectacle: the Drag Reduction System, which allows a driver within one second of another to lower a section of the rear wing to reduce downforce and increase top speed in a designated zone.
In practice, DRS facilitates overtaking and often makes any attempt at defense futile on straights of a certain length. At the same time, in shorter sections, DRS gives a competitor the ability to keep up with the opponent they’re following, allowing them to attempt a maneuver later in the lap, which can encourage on-track battles.
For the Colombian, there is indeed an interest in this system: « It’s good for the show. I mean, it gives a better spectacle because people are overtaking people, but I think overtaking is an art, » he declared to The Racer’s Edge.
For him, overtaking is easier: “Now it’s like giving Photoshop to Picasso.” He uses his time as an example: “You had to think and you had to take a lot of risks. You don’t have to fight for positions today. You come into the straight and if you’re close enough, you have the DRS and you’ve passed the guy before the next corner.”
Juan Pablo Montoya was indeed the origin of some overtakes that made Formula 1 history, such as during the 2001 Brazilian Grand Prix where he dove inside Michael Schumacher at the entrance of the Senna S.
