145 replies to this topic

[Heyli]

I take the fastest lap times from sessions where both drivers competed whether it be Q1, Q2 or Q3, I don't do a total reset for each new session.

It's just a bit odd. I think you can count the amount of times Perez was withint 2 or 3 tenths on Verstappen on 1 hand, yet with all the exclusions that's where the yearly average ends up. 

[SenorSjon]

I think the current way teams run Q, that doesn't work anymore. Look at the way laptimes evolved in Japan between Q1, 2 and 3.

[Raest]

There isn’t really a good way to do this based on lap times only as the choice of lap time to use will be problematic no matter what. For me, first and foremost the comparison should reflect who came on top in that session, so it would be preferable to compare times from the final session where both competed, not the fastest session. Unless I misunderstood your method

[SenorSjon]

There isn’t really a good way to do this based on lap times only as the choice of lap time to use will be problematic no matter what. For me, first and foremost the comparison should reflect who came on top in that session, so it would be preferable to compare times from the final session where both competed, not the fastest session. Unless I misunderstood your method

But someone could get by Q2 in 8th without running a second time, saving tires for Q3 while his teammate gets first on a fresh set. Then something happens in Q3, like the teammate running into technical trouble or crashing on the first run, those times are discarded and suddenly the teammate was faster because of Q2.

[Raest]

But someone could get by Q2 in 8th without running a second time, saving tires for Q3 while his teammate gets first on a fresh set. Then something happens in Q3, like the teammate running into technical trouble or crashing on the first run, those times are discarded and suddenly the teammate was faster because of Q2.

As i said there isn’t a perfect method and you may have the odd skewed session but over the course of the year they will average out significantly, if you go by the fastest session you end up with Perez being a tenth of Verstappen having missed Q3 a bunch of times. You can also take average time over all sessions the drivers participated in in each gp. Then cumulative means over the number of races. You could even make this a weighted mean or impose a penalty if a driver doesn’t make it to q3 and their teammate does or uses fresh set and their teammate doesn’t. But then it becomes an exercise in data analytics instead of someone’s hobby

Edited by Raest, 24 September 2023 - 10:20.

[NotAPineapple]

But someone could get by Q2 in 8th without running a second time, saving tires for Q3 while his teammate gets first on a fresh set. Then something happens in Q3, like the teammate running into technical trouble or crashing on the first run, those times are discarded and suddenly the teammate was faster because of Q2.

You know how much such a scenario is going to affect the final average delta time after 22 races?

Around 0.01s

Edited by NotAPineapple, 24 September 2023 - 15:42.

[tyker]

It's just a bit odd. I think you can count the amount of times Perez was withint 2 or 3 tenths on Verstappen on 1 hand, yet with all the exclusions that's where the yearly average ends up. 

He's been within that parameter 6 out of 10 times bearing in mind I don't use wet sessions.

[tyker]

There isn’t really a good way to do this based on lap times only as the choice of lap time to use will be problematic no matter what. For me, first and foremost the comparison should reflect who came on top in that session, so it would be preferable to compare times from the final session where both competed, not the fastest session. Unless I misunderstood your method

Fastest overall lap not fastest session as such, nominally the fastest session tends to be the last session both drivers competed in so why would I ignore a faster lap that probably came from a slower earlier session.

[tyker]

But someone could get by Q2 in 8th without running a second time, saving tires for Q3 while his teammate gets first on a fresh set. Then something happens in Q3, like the teammate running into technical trouble or crashing on the first run, those times are discarded and suddenly the teammate was faster because of Q2.

If the driver crashes then it's on him, a technical issue then I would like to think I'm on the ball and then annul the data.

[tyker]

After Qatar (Qatar Difference)

 

01. Albon 0.38s (0.092s)

02. Alonso 0.35s (1.12s)

03. Hulkenberg 0.296s (1.141s)

04. Verstappen 0.295s (0.979s)

05. Tsunoda 0.28s (0.577s)

06. Bottas 0.16s (1.394s)

07. Leclerc 0.15s (0.249s)

08. Ocon 0.1s (-0.21s)

09. Norris 0.09s (-0.145s)

10. Russell 0.03s (0.086s)

[tyker]

After Qatar Sprint (Sprint Difference)

 

01. Alonso 0.39s (0.913s)

02. Albon 0.38s (-)

03. Hulkenberg 0.34s (0.988s)

04. Verstappen 0.31s (0.497s)

05. Bottas 0.16s (0.22s)

06. Leclerc 0.14s (-0.092s)

07. Ocon 0.11s (0.176s)

08. Russell 0.09s (0.935s)

09. Norris 0.081s (-0.082s)

10. Tsunoda 0.077s (-0.724s)

[flyboym3]

I didn't watch the Saturday stuff so can someone explain why there is a 1sec gap between George and Hamilton?

From the reports I read it looked like Hamilton had his lap time deleted for track limits and with the track ramping up he got knocked out?

Usually these are the kind of gaps tyker excludes as they are not genuine but today I see he has kept it?

[ForzaFormula]

I didn't watch the Saturday stuff so can someone explain why there is a 1sec gap between George and Hamilton?

From the reports I read it looked like Hamilton had his lap time deleted for track limits and with the track ramping up he got knocked out?

Usually these are the kind of gaps tyker excludes as they are not genuine but today I see he has kept it?

He was miles of Russell's pace unless he was cutting, 3 tenths at least anyway.

[tyker]

I didn't watch the Saturday stuff so can someone explain why there is a 1sec gap between George and Hamilton?

From the reports I read it looked like Hamilton had his lap time deleted for track limits and with the track ramping up he got knocked out?

Usually these are the kind of gaps tyker excludes as they are not genuine but today I see he has kept it?

His deleted lap was still 6 tenths slower than Russell and wouldn't have got him into Q3, Russell only went 2 tenths quicker in Q3.

[tyker]

After Austin (Austin Difference)

 

01. Albon 0.389s (0.512s)

02. Alonso 0.387s (0.321s)

03. Hulkenberg 0.31s (-0.226s)

04. Verstappen 0.3s (0.165s)

05. Leclerc 0.142s (0.222s)

06. Bottas 0.141s (-0.16s)

07. Tsunoda 0.13s (0.277s)

08. Norris 0.12s (0.646s)

09. Ocon 0.1s (-0.065s)

10. Russell 0.07s (-0.217s)

[tyker]

After Austin Sprint (Sprint Difference)

 

01. Albon 0.43s (0.956s)

02. Alonso 0.37s (0.094s)

03. Verstappen 0.32s (0.503s)

04. Hulkenberg 0.3s (0.173s)

05. Leclerc 0.15s (0.346s)

06. Norris 0.12s (0.255s)

07. Bottas 0.11s (-0.368s)

08. Ocon 0.07s (-0.352s)

09. Russell 0.03s (-0.592s)

10. Tsunoda 0.02s (-0.208s)

[Ben24]

I really don't think you can include the Sprint Qualifying results in this metric when there are pretty much always sessions where one team mate is forced to run on old tyres while the other is on new tyres. 

 

Some might argue that Hamilton earned his advantage over Russell in the Sprint Qualifying today because he was so much better in the main qualifying session and saved a set of softs. I don't think this is a valid argument though if you're trying to weigh every single session evenly as entire new event. The real obvious unfairness occurs when one team mate makes it through to a further quali session than the other and is forced to use an extra set of tyres through no fault of his own. He is then often punished for this success in relation to his team mate in quali for the Sprint 

[tyker]

I really don't think you can include the Sprint Qualifying results in this metric when there are pretty much always sessions where one team mate is forced to run on old tyres while the other is on new tyres. 

 

Some might argue that Hamilton earned his advantage over Russell in the Sprint Qualifying today because he was so much better in the main qualifying session and saved a set of softs. I don't think this is a valid argument though if you're trying to weigh every single session evenly as entire new event. The real obvious unfairness occurs when one team mate makes it through to a further quali session than the other and is forced to use an extra set of tyres through no fault of his own. He is then often punished for this success in relation to his team mate in quali for the Sprint 

I must admit I don't care much for the sprint qualifying but the two seem somewhat interlinked, in Friday qualifying Hamilton seemed to be a constant 6 tenths quicker than Russell, Russell used an extra set of softs and closed that to 2 tenths, he had more attempts on soft tyres, on Saturday with no new softs left Russell was 6 tenths slower, as a balance of the two he is 4 tenths slower, that kind of feels about right, without the sprint qualifying Hamilton would have used all his softs for the GP qualifying.

[tyker]

After Mexico (Mexico Difference)

 

01. Albon 0.43s (-)*

02. Alonso 0.37s (0.379s)

03. Verstappen 0.3s (0.16s)

04. Hulkenberg 0.29s (0.194s)

05. Leclerc 0.15s (0.067s)

06. Norris 0.12s (-)*

07. Bottas 0.1s (0.034s)

08. Ocon 0.05s (-0.135s)

09. Russell 0.0191s (-0.219s)

10. Tsunoda 0.0187s (-)*

 

*Norris and Sargeant didn't set a time, Tsunoda assisted Ricciardo with tows with having to start from the back of the grid with penalties.

[SenorSjon]

Norris is a special case. It is understandable his laptimes didn't count for this stat. But he had ample time to do enough runs for a competitive laptime, yet he failed to do that.

A bit like the Perez cases. Due his own mistakes, his average laptime doesn't suffer.

Perhaps put the head-to-head behind the stat with the amount of qualifications you counted?

[KWSN - DSM]

Norris is a special case. It is understandable his laptimes didn't count for this stat. But he had ample time to do enough runs for a competitive laptime, yet he failed to do that.

A bit like the Perez cases. Due his own mistakes, his average laptime doesn't suffer.

Perhaps put the head-to-head behind the stat with the amount of qualifications you counted?

 

It continue to be the thread title throwing us off kilter, making us think it is the qualifying averages between drivers.

[ForzaFormula]

Norris is a special case. It is understandable his laptimes didn't count for this stat. But he had ample time to do enough runs for a competitive laptime, yet he failed to do that.

A bit like the Perez cases. Due his own mistakes, his average laptime doesn't suffer.

Perhaps put the head-to-head behind the stat with the amount of qualifications you counted?

Norris should be included, he made a human error and a mistake on his fast lap, bizarre he would not include it. The results are not accurate.

Edited by ForzaFormula, 29 October 2023 - 18:47.

[ARTGP]

Norris should be included, he made a human error and a mistake on his fast lap, bizarre he would not include it. The results are not accurate.

No laptime was set…

Edited by ARTGP, 29 October 2023 - 18:57.

[RPM40]

No laptime was set…

 

Yes there was, he set a 1:21.554

[tyker]

After Brazil (Brazil Difference)

 

01. Albon 0.43s (0.414s)

02. Alonso 0.36s (0.138s)

03. Verstappen 0.29s (0.057s)

04. Hulkenberg 0.28s (0.127s)

05. Leclerc 0.14s (-0.049s)

06. Norris 0.13s (0.309s)

07. Bottas 0.12s (0.32s)

08. Ocon 0.05s (0.05s)

09. Tsunoda 0.0155s (0.006s)

10. Russell 0.0154s (-0.05s)

[tyker]

Yes there was, he set a 1:21.554

I can't consider a lap time 3 seconds slower than Piastri's lap to be a representative lap time.

[Astandahl]

After Brazil (Brazil Difference)

 

01. Albon 0.43s (0.414s)

02. Alonso 0.36s (0.138s)

03. Verstappen 0.29s (0.057s)

04. Hulkenberg 0.28s (0.127s)

05. Leclerc 0.14s (-0.049s)

06. Norris 0.13s (0.309s)

07. Bottas 0.12s (0.32s)

08. Ocon 0.05s (0.05s)

09. Tsunoda 0.0155s (0.006s)

10. Russell 0.0154s (-0.05s)

Why using Q2 laps?

[Heyli]

Why using Q2 laps?

I guess because of the quickly changing conditions in Q3. 

[Astandahl]

I guess because of the quickly changing conditions in Q3. 

The drivers were all close to each others. The only driver impacted was Perez that had to slow down due to the yellow flag caused by Piastri.

 

Norris made a mistake in the last corner for example. Up to that corner he was pretty much on par with Leclerc.

Edited by Astandahl, 03 November 2023 - 22:29.

[tyker]

Why using Q2 laps?

I used the fastest lap times none of which were set in Q3.

[Astandahl]

I used the fastest lap times none of which were set in Q3.

Ah gotcha

[tyker]

After Brazil Sprint (Sprint Difference)

 

01. Albon 0.41s (0.09s)

02. Alonso 0.35s (0.258s)

03. Verstappen 0.28s (0.073s)

04. Hulkenberg 0.27s (-0.025s)

05. Norris 0.16s (0.567s)

06. Leclerc 0.13s (0.049s)

07. Bottas 0.12s (0.194s)

08. Ocon 0.04s (-0.159s)

09. Tsunoda 0.03s (0.103s)

10. Russell 0.02s (0.083s)

Edited by tyker, 04 November 2023 - 16:05.

[tyker]

After Las Vegas (Las Vegas Difference)

 

01. Albon 0.4s (0.19s)

02. Alonso 0.36s (0.582s)

03. Verstappen 0.28s (0.283s)

04. Hulkenberg 0.24s (-0.315s)

05. Norris 0.16s (0.147s)

06. Bottas 0.14s (0.544s)

07. Leclerc 0.13s (0.044s)

08. Russell 0.04s (0.486s)

09. Ocon 0.01s (-0.562s)

10. Tsunoda 0s (-0.137s)

[RPM40]

After Las Vegas (Las Vegas Difference)

 

01. Albon 0.4s (0.19s)

02. Alonso 0.36s (0.582s)

03. Verstappen 0.28s (0.283s)

04. Hulkenberg 0.24s (-0.315s)

05. Norris 0.16s (0.147s)

06. Bottas 0.14s (0.544s)

07. Leclerc 0.13s (0.044s)

08. Russell 0.04s (0.486s)

09. Ocon 0.01s (-0.562s)

10. Tsunoda 0s (-0.137s)

 

How are you getting the 1 tenth gap between Ricciardo and Tsunoda? The gap was 1.8 seconds in Q1.

[tyker]

How are you getting the 1 tenth gap between Ricciardo and Tsunoda? The gap was 1.8 seconds in Q1.

I took the first run, Tsunoda never set a time after that, I can't take a gap of close to 2 seconds as being representative on a fast improving track.

[alexsab]

Wasn't the Ocon/Gasly gap inflated by Ocon losing his final Q1 lap due to the shenanigans with Verstappen? If so, I'm not sure the time difference of 0.562s can be regarded as representative (given the massive track evolution/step-up in pace over the course of Q1). Happy to be corrected if it is a like-for-like comparison.

Edited by alexsab, 20 November 2023 - 13:51.

[KWSN - DSM]

Wasn't the Ocon/Gasly gap inflated by Ocon losing his final Q1 lap due to the shenanigans with Verstappen? If so, I'm not sure the time difference of 0.562s can be regarded as representative (given the massive track evolution/step-up in pace over the course of Q1). Happy to be corrected if it is a like-for-like comparison.

 

There are no like-for-like comparisons in the posted results here, take it as a qualified image molded on the preference of the thread starter.

[Anonymouse]

I took the first run, Tsunoda never set a time after that, I can't take a gap of close to 2 seconds as being representative on a fast improving track.

But you did count the gap in the Austin Sprint as a representative gap between those same two drivers in similar circumstances (Tsunoda did not get to the line in time to set a time at the end of the session and was shuffled out of sprint qualifying by several drivers, including his teammate, on a fast improving track). Very odd, that gap was no more representative than this one.

[flyboym3]

Previously you had not compared multiple runs in the same segment due to you citing the track ramping up but I notice this weekend you didn't apply that rule so very inconsistent.

I think the data being presented is not telling an accurate picture but I understand what you're trying to do, which brings in your personal subjectiveness.

Edited by flyboym3, 21 November 2023 - 23:32.

[tyker]

Wasn't the Ocon/Gasly gap inflated by Ocon losing his final Q1 lap due to the shenanigans with Verstappen? If so, I'm not sure the time difference of 0.562s can be regarded as representative (given the massive track evolution/step-up in pace over the course of Q1). Happy to be corrected if it is a like-for-like comparison.

They had the same run plan, I took the times from their faster second flying lap, Gasly's final lap was spoiled as well in Q1.

[tyker]

But you did count the gap in the Austin Sprint as a representative gap between those same two drivers in similar circumstances (Tsunoda did not get to the line in time to set a time at the end of the session and was shuffled out of sprint qualifying by several drivers, including his teammate, on a fast improving track). Very odd, that gap was no more representative than this one.

I missed that with the gap only being 2 tenths, I will annul that because Tsunoda was faster on the first run.

[tyker]

Final Standings (Abu Dhabi Difference) head to head

 

01. Albon 0.4s (-) 16-0

02. Alonso 0.36s (0.274s) 19-2

03. Verstappen 0.3s (0.671s) 18-2

04. Hulkenberg 0.24s (0.339s) 14-7

05. Bottas 0.153s (0.371s) 14-7

06. Norris 0.149s (-0.034s) 14-6

07. Leclerc 0.14s (0.274s) 16-6

08. Tsunoda 0.08s (0.235s) 4-2

09. Russell 0.05s (0.346s) 13-10

10. Gasly 0.01s (0.313s) 12-8

 

Tsunoda > DeVries 0.18s (5-2)

Tsunoda > Lawson 0,081s (4-1)

Tsunoda > Ricciardo 0.078s (4-2)

 

I've noticed that most people don't include the sprint qualifying so here are those numbers.

 

01. Albon 0.4s (13-0)

02. Alonso 0.36s (15-2)

03. Verstappen 0.32s (15-1)

04. Hulkenberg 0.22s (11-6)

05. Bottas 0.2s (12-5)

06. Norris 0.14s (12-4)

07. Leclerc 0.12s (13-5)

08. Tsunoda 0.08s (3-2)

09. Russell 0.03s (10-9)

10. Ocon 0.01s (7-10)

 

Tsunoda > Lawson 0.28s (4-0)

Tsunoda > DeVries 0.18s (5-2)

Tsunoda > Ricciardo 0.08s (3-2)

 

I've never been comfortable including the sprint qualifying and seeing as no one else seems to acknowledge it in their stats I think I will exclude it from now on.

[alexsab]

Mark Hughes has done a Motor Sport piece delving into the qualifying averages and this is his calculation of the team-mate head-to-heads (from the biggest gap to the smallest):

 

1. Alonso 0.382s faster than Stroll 

2. Albon 0.346s faster than Sargeant

3. Verstappen 0.322s faster than Perez

4. Hulkenberg 0.284s faster than Magnussen 

5. Tsunoda 0.228s faster than De Vries

6. Norris 0.192s faster than Piastri

7. Leclerc 0.189s faster than Sainz

8. Bottas 0.172s faster than Zhou

9. Tsunoda 0.141s faster than Lawson

10. Tsunoda 0.120s faster than Ricciardo

11. Russell 0.018s faster than Hamilton

12. Ocon 0.008s faster than Gasly

 

He explains his method in detail, but to summarise: (1) only times from the same qualifying segment are included to limit the extent to which track evolution can skew comparisons; (2) wet/damp sessions are excluded due to the random variance/luck involved; and (3) to account for the difference in lap times between circuits, times are initially converted to a percentage above the fastest time and then converted back to a lap time difference based on the average pole position time for all the tracks included (1m24.073s).

 

The results are broadly similar to tyker's, although Mark has the Alonso/Stroll gap being slightly larger than Albon's margin over Sargeant.

Edited by alexsab, 02 December 2023 - 11:16.

[tyker]

Mark Hughes has done a Motor Sport piece delving into the qualifying averages and this is his calculation of the team-mate head-to-heads (from the biggest gap to the smallest):

 

1. Alonso 0.382s faster than Stroll 

2. Albon 0.346s faster than Sargeant

3. Verstappen 0.322s faster than Perez

4. Hulkenberg 0.284s faster than Magnussen 

5. Tsunoda 0.228s faster than De Vries

6. Norris 0.192s faster than Piastri

7. Leclerc 0.189s faster than Sainz

8. Bottas 0.172s faster than Zhou

9. Tsunoda 0.141s faster than Lawson

10. Tsunoda 0.120s faster than Ricciardo

11. Russell 0.018s faster than Hamilton

12. Ocon 0.008s faster than Gasly

 

He explains his method in detail, but to summarise: (1) only times from the same qualifying segment are included to limit the extent to which track evolution can skew comparisons; (2) wet/damp sessions are excluded due to the random variance/luck involved; and (3) to account for the difference in lap times between circuits, times are initially converted to a percentage above the fastest time and then converted back to a lap time difference based on the average pole position time for all the tracks included (1m24.073s).

 

The results are broadly similar to tyker's, although Mark has the Alonso/Stroll gap being slightly larger than Albon's margin over Sargeant.

Thanks for bringing that forward, it's very interesting, I make it an average variance of 0.04s, a different methodology but getting results not to dissimilar.    

Edited by tyker, 02 December 2023 - 15:04.

[JimmyClark]

As we are now halfway through the season (only?! it feels like it's been going on forever), I just did the numbers for my alternative way of doing this which I did last year - its not better or worse than the OP's, just a different way of looking at it. To remind of my rules: 

- Times from the last segment both drivers completed are counted, to make sure conditions are fairly equal (if a driver didn't finish Q1 or didn't set a representative time, that weekend is discounted). 

- The top and bottom differences between the two over the 11 races are not counted, to take away extremes, so this is an average of max. the median 9 sessions between the two (at the end of the year I will do this for top/bottom 3, meaning max of 16 sessions will be counted). 

- The differences are equalised to the average qualifying lap time of the season so far (82.4 seconds), which helps account for the extreme long/short laps (e.g Baku/Austria) and wet sessions. 

 

Using this, the differences are (with fastest driver first, and in order of closest teammates): 

• SAI > LEC +0.023
• HAM > RUS +0.094
• BOT > ZHO +0.116
• OCO > GAS +0.193
• TSU > DEV +0.273*
• ALO > STR +0.330
• NOR > PIA +0.349
• HUL > MAG +0.446
• ALB > SAR +0.522
• VER > PER +0.554

 

*Note I've ignored Ricciardo as he's only had one race weekend

 

Sorry I didn't get round to updating this after the second half of the season was over - travels and house moves means I've not had much time since then to do this! 

 

Methodology described in the quote; remember this is trying to find a more accurate calculation of natural qualifying speed differentials in 2023 between teammates rather than an outright qualifying gaps average. The top 3 and bottom 3 time differentials between teammates are discounted, meaning a median average of a max 16 events is taken. 

 

For teammates who were the same in 2023 as 2022, I've put last year's gap using this methodology in brackets, for interest. Also, below the three teammates to Tsunoda are lumped together at AT, but they are broken down individually afterwards, however note that due to Ricciardo's/Lawson's reduced races I'd say the data is a bit less accurate than for the rest of the field. De Vries' number has changed slightly as the 'average' lap used for equalisation changed after all 22 race weekends were taken into account (average pole lap of 2023 = 83.6s). 

 

So, the results in order of gaps: 

 

• VER > PER: -0.555 (-0.475)
• ALB > SAR: -0.527
• ALO > STR: -0.435
• TSU > AT2*: -0.241
• HUL > MAG: -0.235
• NOR > PIA: -0.210
• BOT > ZHO: -0.202 (-0.250)
• LEC > SAI: -0.055 (-0.046)
• GAS > OCO: -0.034
• HAM > RUS: -0.020 (-0.116)

 

*Alpha Tauri broken down:

• TSU > LAW: -0.347
• TSU > DEV: -0.305
• TSU > RIC: -0.024

 

My observations: 

• For the second year in a row, Max has around a half second pace advantage over Perez, and the gap has widened. Checo needs to bring this down if he is to have a chance of being extended into 2025, as they are the biggest differential on the grid. 
• The other two dominant intra-team battles are Alonso/Stroll and Albon/Sargeant, which really isn't surprising given the faster drivers' obvious pace advantages over their teammates all year.
• Ferrari's drivers are a great match on pace for two years in a row, and although Charles has the reputation of being a qualifying specialist, Carlos is obviously underrated in this area too. 
• Russell actually made a significant outright pace improvement against Hamilton this year, though is still a smidgen slower. However, despite the overall impression and standings appearing to show George slipping back in his second season, his pace is bang on where Mercedes would expect him to develop. Smart money would be on him being the overall faster driver at Mercedes in 2024 (though whether his racecraft and results will improve too is the key question). 
• Looking at this, Lawson wasn't too much of an improvement on De Vries and perceptions of him might have been enhanced by his relative inexperience, but he probably needs more weekends to show his potential. But again this average only comes from 3 weekends, so it's hard to come to any concrete conclusions. However, putting Danny Ricciardo in that second seat was clearly the right decision for 2024 and he should be a good benchmark for Yuki's ongoing progress. 
• Gasly and Ocon are very evenly matched, which I think surprises many of us who thought Ocon would have been dominant this year. Great to see. 

[mstar]

The way i am reading this is that the car sensitivity has a key factor which merc driver pairing is quicker.  When the car is in the sweet spot for both drivers it does seem to me Lewis is quicker.  

 

For me it seems that russell is more acceptance to a bad balance where lewis tries to change the car and ends up slower and maybe is not willing to drive the car "as it is" and tries to make it better and go a different way in set up.

 

A lot of comments from lewis have supported that he tends to go against the "sim set-up worked on in the factory" and tbh he gets slower.  This is why when the car gets better and stable its lewis who can extract more from the car.  We saw this in 2022 and 2023 that it was lewis who could get close to Redbull when the car worked on the circuit and had a good balance

Edited by mstar, 04 January 2024 - 09:59.