Use KERS and DRS to its Full Potential in F1 2011

F1 2011 has had some exciting changes to it with the main changes being the introduction to KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) and DRS (Drag Reduction System). KERS and DRS for me at first very confusing. How can I concentrate on activating these two different things which will make my F1 car faster while driving, changing gears and all of this without traction control (I know, I make it difficult for myself!). Many people don't know how to use KERS or DRS while playing F1 201. They don't know when to use it and how long to use it. For this reason, I have made this article to give you the situations you should use KERS and DRS.
Before I start, the controls for DRS is triangle on PS3 or Y on Xbox 360 and KERS is L1 on PS3 and LB on Xbox.

KERS

The kinetic energy recovery system is a way of storing the energy made in braking and using it when accelerating. It is enabled whatever condition the track is in and usually lasts around 5 seconds if used all at once. It is replenished once a lap.


KERS should be used differently in different situations within the game:


Qualifying/Practice
Here, you should be using the majority of the KERS at the start of straights. KERS is most effective at the start of very long straights where the benefit of KERS will stay for longer. This usually is the pit straight and another straight within the circuit (your decision which other straight to deploy KERS). You can tap on KERS too to help get you into the next gear quicker if it benefits the speed of your car in the long term.


Race - While you are not overtaking or defending, use KERS like you would in qualifying or practice. When it comes to overtaking over cars, use the KERS on the same straight DRS is activated. This gives you the boost of two speed demons to help you make overtaking easy. I also find the computer cars brake very early into corners. Therefore, if you are still a bit behind the car in front, it's pretty easy to outbreak him into the next corner. While defending against a car that is trying to over take, use the KERS when he is just about to take you. You want to make it as difficult to be overtaken as possible. Therefore, the time when he pulls his car alongside your car is the time you will want to use KERS (as much as you feel will stop him overtaking you). Another time you would use KERS is if the car behind has DRS enabled on you. He has a speed advantage over you which you want to decrease to lower the chance of him taking you: this can be decreased through KERS.

DRS

The drag reduction system allows the wing to fall horizontally reducing the drag caused by the wing. This makes the whole Formula one car extremely fast in a straight line. Yet, the lack of down force causes it to handle terribly round any corners, even slight ones. DRS is disabled on all wet practices, qualifying and races like it is in the real world of Formula one. DRS is only allowed on one straight or possibly two for each individual circuit.


Qualifying/Practice 
DRS is enabled everywhere in qualifying and practice. However, it is wise to only use it when your car is in a straight line or just coming out of a corner. It is near impossible to stop the car spinning (this is without traction control on) when DRS is open and you are turning. For this reason, get into the habit that every time your car is in an accelerating in a straight line, open DRS. This is one click of the L1 or LB button on your controller to open it. It closes automatically when braking. However, if you want to close it before you start braking, just press the same button that opened DRS once again.

Race
In a race, DRS is only enabled on the longest straight or possibly two straights (depending on the circuit) being main straight and next longest straight. To enable DRS, you have to be within a second of the car in front at the moment your gap is recorded (this usually is the corner before the straight with DRS). If you are within a second, you will hear a buzzer sound of the DRS telling you that you can use it. From then, you can use it to slipstream and cruise past the car in front.

I hope this gives you a better idea of how to effectively use KERS and DRS in different situations in F1 2011. I know many people still don't use it. This is wrong! You gain a huge advantage through using KERS and DRS, especially in qualifying. So, make sure to use it!

Will Green as well as blogging with Joe Black on Review Cosmos runs his own website on Blogging and Twitter tips - Ask Will Online.