Jul.20 (GMM) The 2011 regulations have more than doubled the prevalence of overtaking in formula one.

An analysis by Mercedes GP shows there have been 623 passing moves so far after nine of the scheduled 19 grands prix this year.

That is already more than the entire tally of 547 passes in 2010, according to the AFP news agency.

Mercedes' figures show that 225 of the overtakes so far in 2011 were 'normal', with 180 assisted by the new overtaking rear wing system 'DRS'.

That suggests that the heavily degrading Pirelli tyres are the bigger contributing factor to overtaking this year.

DRS was reportedly less influential than earlier this season at the most recent races at Valencia and Silverstone, with only 44 and 29 overtaking moves recorded at those rounds respectively.

And Ferrari's Pat Fry is also not expecting DRS to be overly influential this weekend at the Nurburgring.

"The DRS zone (in Germany) involves following someone closely through the high speed corner onto the back straight which will be a little bit of a challenge," he said.

Asked this week by F1's official website what further innovations Michael Schumacher would like to see in the sport, he answered: "Even more overtaking."

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version