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[Four mules as one]

What I am noticing now is that the top teams (Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari) with their KERS and DRS are the only ones getting on the podium now. While the races are greater to watch the overall outcome is becoming quite predictable. If DRS wasn't available would we have seen perhaps a Schumacher or possibly a Kobayashi on the podium? I think with the current use of both of these devices it is making it too easy for the top teams to always be on the podium at the finish.

[carmonwebber]

It depends more on the length of the straight. DRS was most obvious on the long straights of Shanghai and Istanbul. And as I said before, the aim of DRS is to make passing a bigger possibility, not to make it completely easy.

But after seeing Schueys efforts in the wet go to waste at Canada due to DRS was very anti racing for me. I hope the next couple of races involve intermediate tyres cause then we may finally see the great man on the podium again.

There's no denying the fact that Schumacher wasn't fast enough to be on the podium in Montreal. The inevitable happened. DRS simply aided it, rather than created it.

It was the track drying. When it was wet, the Mercedes' inferior pace was equalized and MS's superior skills (rainmeister) brought him to the fore.

...and I guess DRS also helps the faster cars get by cars that might be slowing them down, but have trouble doing so throughout the rest of the track. Then if the overtaken car is able to keep up thereafter, then they have the same opportunity the next lap i guess.

[geetface9]

What I am noticing now is that the top teams (Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari) with their KERS and DRS are the only ones getting on the podium now. While the races are greater to watch the overall outcome is becoming quite predictable. If DRS wasn't available would we have seen perhaps a Schumacher or possibly a Kobayashi on the podium? I think with the current use of both of these devices it is making it too easy for the top teams to always be on the podium at the finish.

My opinion is that even without DRS and KERS it's quite likely that the same cars would be on the podium all the time anyway. they're "top" teams for a reason. You have a good point; it is possible that without those devices the results could have been different, but I think that over the course of the season you'd see the same guys on the podium most of the time and any changes would be an exception, kinda like kubica and rosberg getting on the podium last season. It was always kind of a random thing

[Four mules as one]

My opinion is that even without DRS and KERS it's quite likely that the same cars would be on the podium all the time anyway. they're "top" teams for a reason. You have a good point; it is possible that without those devices the results could have been different, but I think that over the course of the season you'd see the same guys on the podium most of the time and any changes would be an exception, kinda like kubica and rosberg getting on the podium last season. It was always kind of a random thing

agreed on that. It will be interesting to see how many more random podiums there will be for the remaining of the season. I think only the 2 renaults have made it on there so far this year. And the way its heading at the moment the top drivers (Vettel, Button, Webber, Hamilton, Alonso) are dominating the podium and even Massa in the other Ferrari would be considered a random at the moment. Mercedes with their lack of pace in the late stages of the race are very little chance and then theres everyone else behind them. Even with the supposed changes of Pirelli tyres, DRS and KERS the rich still get richer and the poor get very little crumbs. Maybe its time to put the top 5 drivers on the podium?????? Big call.

[LewEngBridewell]

My opinion is that even without DRS and KERS it's quite likely that the same cars would be on the podium all the time anyway. they're "top" teams for a reason.

Do you remember in 2002, when the season was dominated by Ferrari, Williams and McLaren? Those three teams dominated the podium, and the only other driver from another team to make it onto the podium was Eddie Irvine for Jaguar at Monza?

Now that's podium domination for you.

[acosmichippo]

The goal for KERS, DRS, and Pirelli was not to give the lesser teams a chance for a podium - it was to increase excitement through varying strategies and more overtaking. It's only natural that the best teams get a better handle on the new technology.