Slipstream (Tow)

The slipstream (also called a "tow") is the low-pressure wake created behind a Formula 1 car. A following car driving in the slipstream experiences reduced aerodynamic drag, allowing it to travel faster on straights with the same engine power. The slipstream effect is most significant on long straights — at Monza, a car in the slipstream can gain 5-10 km/h compared to a car in clean air. The slipstream is used strategically in qualifying (drivers time their laps to benefit from a teammate's slipstream) and in racing (a following car can use the slipstream to close the gap and attempt an overtake). The slipstream effect is separate from the dirty air effect — slipstream helps on straights, while dirty air hurts in corners.

Slipstreaming has been part of F1 since the beginning. At Monza in the 1960s and 1970s, slipstreaming was so significant that races were decided by the final straight. The introduction of DRS in 2011 has reduced the importance of slipstreaming in modern F1.