How Overtaking Works in F1

Every overtake needs three things to work: getting close, getting alongside, and staying ahead.

The first ingredient is the slipstream — the pocket of disturbed air behind another car. Think of it like cycling behind someone else: you use less energy because they're cutting through the wind for you.

In F1, following in the slipstream reduces drag and gives you extra speed. But there's a catch: less air also means less downforce, so your car feels looser and harder to control.

Getting alongside happens in two places: on long straights or in braking zones.

On straights, drivers use DRS (Drag Reduction System) — a rear wing that opens to reduce drag when you're within one second of the car ahead. It's like removing a parachute from your back.

In braking zones, it's about timing. Brake later than the car ahead, and you might sweep around the outside. Or divebomb — brake super late and dive down the inside, hoping to complete the move before the next corner.

Staying ahead is the hardest part. The car behind still has DRS for another detection zone, so they might strike back immediately.

This is why you see drivers weaving slightly after an overtake — they're breaking the slipstream and making it harder for their opponent to mount a counter-attack.

The best overtakes combine all three elements: slipstream for speed, perfect positioning in the braking zone, and defensive driving to make it stick.

Next time you watch a race, notice how long cars spend following before they make their move. Watch for the moment they pull out of the slipstream — that's when the overtake attempt begins.

And if you see a driver brake impossibly late and lunge down the inside? That's a divebomb. Sometimes it's brilliant, sometimes it ends in tears. But it's always exciting.