Glossary
Slipstream (tow) in F1
Answer
A slipstream, or tow, is the pocket of lower-pressure air directly behind a car punching through the atmosphere. A following car in that pocket meets less drag, so it can carry more speed down a straight and use the extra pace to attack into the next braking zone. It is a key overtaking aid on long-straight circuits.
How it works
A car moving at speed leaves a wake of turbulent, lower-pressure air behind it. A pursuing car that tucks into that wake has less air resistance to fight, which lets it accelerate harder and reach a higher top speed on the same power than it could in clean air[1].
Why it matters in racing
- On long straights a tow can be worth several km/h, enough to pull alongside before the braking zone.
- It stacks with DRS: a chasing car often uses both the slipstream and an open rear wing to complete a pass.
- The trade-off is the dirty air in that same wake, which hurts the following car's downforce through the corner before the straight.
Related terms
Sources
- [1]Drafting (aerodynamics) (Wikipedia) (wikipedia-en). Accessed 2026-06-18.
Published 2026-06-18