Drivers Say Rule Changes Had Positive Effect In F1

SAO PAULO – The Formula One season comes to an end this weekend at the Brazilian Grand Prix with drivers approving the rule changes that were aimed at encouraging passing and improving racing.

Although Sebastian Vettel dominated the season and easily won the title with four races to spare, there was plenty of excitement on the track throughout the year, with a significant increase in passing in nearly all races.

A study by Mercedes released ahead of Sunday’s Brazilian GP showed there have been more than 800 overtaking maneuvers in the first 18 races, reaching “record levels” in F1.

Nearly half of those passes came thanks to the new drag reduction system (DRS) implemented by FIA this year, which allows drivers to adjust their rear wings to facilitate passing.