Formula 1: Have Rule Changes Made Overtaking Too Artificial?

The 2011 Formula 1 season has seen some of the biggest changes to Formula 1 in many years.

Fans of Formula 1 are used to rules changing with changes in technical laws and qualifying formats having taken place over the last 10 years.

The change in tyres from Bridgestone to Pirelli has been a huge factor in the format of the 2011 season. Pirelli were asked to bring tyres to Formula 1 that would shake up the field, and they have delivered.

The Spanish Grand Prix saw hard compound tyres that were two seconds a lap slower then the soft ones, which couldn't last for more than 14 laps—or 39 miles!

This led to teams looking at doing three or four stops for tyres.

The number of pit stops has made the sport harder to follow from a strategic point of view. It has proved to be a way of forcing the teams to stop after the number of pit stops was reduced following the ban on in-race refuelling.

The changes in tyre rules have also caused a dramatic change in the qualifying process.

There is now a fine balance for teams between saving fresh tyres for the race and using tyres to get a strong grid position.

Both Mark Webber and Jensen Button have shown this year that with the right tyre strategy, being further back on the grid does not signal the end of a race.

The return of KERS has added to the numbers of overtakes, especially when it has been used in conjunction with the new DRS.

KERS featured in Formula 1 during the 2009 season but was dropped in 2010 due to costs. There were several teams who simply couldn't afford to put the systems in their cars.

The return of KERS in 2011 has not been problem-free. Red Bull will testify that you don't need to have KERS to have a fast car. In fact, Red Bull have at times suffered at the hands of KERS by carrying the weight of the system but getting none of the power boost.

Formula 1 is still finding its feet with DRS. The movable rear wing is allowed to be used at any time during qualifying, and then in the race after the first two laps it is allowed to be used in a designated area by a car that is within one second of the car in front.

The Turkish Grand Prix saw an amazing overtaking spectacle. DRS worked exceptionally well, and this led to one of the most exciting races that Formula 1 has seen in recent times.

Spain was a different story for DRS. One of the longest straights in Formula 1 was expected to be another demonstration of overtaking through DRS. Thanks to the chicane onto the straight, the DRS was almost ineffective during the race.

The Monaco Grand Prix next week will be a test of drivers' bottle. The DRS will be available for use through the infamous tunnel. Will anyone be brave enough to use DRS and the 81 horses provided by KERS at the same time?

Later in the year there will be two opportunities in a race to use DRS. The plan for Canada is that drivers will be able to use the DRS first to close the gap to the car in front and then the second time to effect the overtake.

The question has to be asked: Are these changes helpful to Formula 1 or not?

From the point of view of the fan, it's an amazing spectacle to see so much overtaking and wheel-to-wheel racing.

Fans of a certain team or driver may not be so happy. It won't be long before DRS and KERS have a direct effect on who wins a race.

If a driver wins a race due to having DRS available on the last lap when the other car doesn't, how will that sit with the fans?

The changes in 2011 have, without doubt, made for a season packed with exciting races and one clearly better than the procession that had been a feature over the last few years.

Whilst the rules are the same for all teams and drivers, the basic DNA of Formula 1 has been changed.

It can only be a matter of time until the best driver in the best car doesn't win due to these rules. If it's a good thing for Formula 1 or not, only time will tell.