JEDDAH PREVIEW
Aero efficiency is king:
- Drag must be low to be quick in the long full-throttle sections ✅
- Downforce must be high enough not to lose too much time in the fast corners and in braking and to save the tyres ✅
🟠 McL had high drag, very high downforce in Bahrain: can they reduce the former while retaining the latter? 👀
Softest compounds so far (C3-C5) + Many fast corners = high wear!
The new C6 compound (even softer!) will debut in Imola!
📸: @pirellisport
Aero efficiency is king:
- Drag must be low to be quick in the long full-throttle sections ✅
- Downforce must be high enough not to lose too much time in the fast corners and in braking and to save the tyres ✅
🟠 McL had high drag, very high downforce in Bahrain: can they reduce the former while retaining the latter? 👀
Softest compounds so far (C3-C5) + Many fast corners = high wear!
The new C6 compound (even softer!) will debut in Imola!
📸: @pirellisport
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Jeddah requires aero efficiency:
- Low drag ✅ (Long full-throttle sections);
- Enough downforce ✅ (Many fast corners, keep deg. Under control).
🟠 McL had the most downforce AND drag in Bahrain: their wing for Jeddah has a design similar to 🔴 Ferrari, but less load.
Different lower plane design for 🔵 RBR (no spoon).
⬇️Huge difference in wing loads⬇️
Most loaded wing: 🔴 Haas;
Least loaded: 🟣 Alpine, ⚪️ Racing Bulls (practically Monza-spec)!
📸 @AlbertFabrega
- Low drag ✅ (Long full-throttle sections);
- Enough downforce ✅ (Many fast corners, keep deg. Under control).
🟠 McL had the most downforce AND drag in Bahrain: their wing for Jeddah has a design similar to 🔴 Ferrari, but less load.
Different lower plane design for 🔵 RBR (no spoon).
⬇️Huge difference in wing loads⬇️
Most loaded wing: 🔴 Haas;
Least loaded: 🟣 Alpine, ⚪️ Racing Bulls (practically Monza-spec)!
📸 @AlbertFabrega
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Saudi Arabian GP - Practice 1
🟣GAS vs 🟠NOR
💡NOR already equalled his '24 quali top speed (326km/h) even though his engine was WAY down on power in FP1!
His ERS deployment was particularly weak: he LOST speed a few hundred meters before the T27 braking point ('clipping').
Impressive drag improvement!
🟣GAS vs 🟠NOR
💡NOR already equalled his '24 quali top speed (326km/h) even though his engine was WAY down on power in FP1!
His ERS deployment was particularly weak: he LOST speed a few hundred meters before the T27 braking point ('clipping').
Impressive drag improvement!
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Formula Data Analysis
Saudi Arabian GP - Practice 1 🟣GAS vs 🟠NOR 💡NOR already equalled his '24 quali top speed (326km/h) even though his engine was WAY down on power in FP1! His ERS deployment was particularly weak: he LOST speed a few hundred meters before the T27 braking point…
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Saudi Arabian GP - Analyses Repository — Formula Data Analysis
Post by Formula Data Analysis
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FP2 DATA 📊
1) BEST SECTORS:
- 🟠 McL quickest everywhere thanks to unmatched downforce;
- 🔴 LEC got closer in power-intensive S3 (due to McL's higher drag);
- Ferrari and Mercedes' lack of downforce hurt them in S1.
2) TOP SPEEDS:
- Sauber = dragster 🚀
- Ferrari and RBR's have a drag advantage vs McL.
- Low drag for Alpine, high for Aston.
3) MINISECTORS:
- NOR seems unbeatable in the T14-T18 segment (fast corners). Dominated ‘just’ 1/3 of the lap, but gained a lot there and lost little everywhere else, so was quickest!
1) BEST SECTORS:
- 🟠 McL quickest everywhere thanks to unmatched downforce;
- 🔴 LEC got closer in power-intensive S3 (due to McL's higher drag);
- Ferrari and Mercedes' lack of downforce hurt them in S1.
2) TOP SPEEDS:
- Sauber = dragster 🚀
- Ferrari and RBR's have a drag advantage vs McL.
- Low drag for Alpine, high for Aston.
3) MINISECTORS:
- NOR seems unbeatable in the T14-T18 segment (fast corners). Dominated ‘just’ 1/3 of the lap, but gained a lot there and lost little everywhere else, so was quickest!
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PRACTICE 2: GG-PLOT
👀
Norris topped FP2 through sheer consistency: his maximum braking g's were lower than VER's/LEC's, and he was no quicker in the right-hand side corners, yet his average acceleration was higher (🟠2.04g vs 🔵2.01 vs 🔴1.99) - but how?
- He remained consistently close to his grip limits;
- Was unmatched in the fast T14-T18 left corners.
👀
Norris topped FP2 through sheer consistency: his maximum braking g's were lower than VER's/LEC's, and he was no quicker in the right-hand side corners, yet his average acceleration was higher (🟠2.04g vs 🔵2.01 vs 🔴1.99) - but how?
- He remained consistently close to his grip limits;
- Was unmatched in the fast T14-T18 left corners.
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QUALI ANALYSIS 📊
1) AERO PERFORMANCE:
🔵VER stormed to an expected pole, aided by RBR's excellent aero efficiency!
🟠McL's and 🟢Mercedes' downforce was unmatched, but it could not compensate for their high drag.
🔴Ferrari chose a compromise but was slower overall.
2) BEST SECTORS:
One different car quickest in each
- Surprisingly, VER quickest in the twisty S1;
- RUS quickest in S2 (fast corners);
- PIA quickest in S3, despite top speed deficit.
3) MINISECTORS:
- PIA was quickest in over half the lap, yet VER was quicker overall (lost less where he lost, and gained more when he gained).
- VER gained over all the full-throttle sections.
VER's low drag will aid in the fights, while Mercedes/McL's more loaded setup might aid with tyre wear.
What's YOUR prediction for the Saudi Arabian GP?
👀🤔
1) AERO PERFORMANCE:
🔵VER stormed to an expected pole, aided by RBR's excellent aero efficiency!
🟠McL's and 🟢Mercedes' downforce was unmatched, but it could not compensate for their high drag.
🔴Ferrari chose a compromise but was slower overall.
2) BEST SECTORS:
One different car quickest in each
- Surprisingly, VER quickest in the twisty S1;
- RUS quickest in S2 (fast corners);
- PIA quickest in S3, despite top speed deficit.
3) MINISECTORS:
- PIA was quickest in over half the lap, yet VER was quicker overall (lost less where he lost, and gained more when he gained).
- VER gained over all the full-throttle sections.
VER's low drag will aid in the fights, while Mercedes/McL's more loaded setup might aid with tyre wear.
What's YOUR prediction for the Saudi Arabian GP?
👀🤔
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BATTERY DRAIN 🔋➡️🪫
Change in speed at end vs start of the lap
Negative values: loss of speed due to a drained battery.
Higher drag➡️More time spent full-throttle, less braking energy recovered➡️Battery drains➡️Clipping.
McL/Aston struggled.
Ferrari PU seems effective.
Having a sustainable ERS deployment is crucial to attack/defend lap after lap.
Change in speed at end vs start of the lap
Negative values: loss of speed due to a drained battery.
Higher drag➡️More time spent full-throttle, less braking energy recovered➡️Battery drains➡️Clipping.
McL/Aston struggled.
Ferrari PU seems effective.
Having a sustainable ERS deployment is crucial to attack/defend lap after lap.
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Formula Data Analysis
SAUDI ARABIAN GP - RACE PACE: VER was NARROWLY quicker than PIA (0.04s/lap). LEC was on fire! 'Just' 0.23s/lap slower than the pole-sitter and marginally quicker than NOR. Mercedes couldn't compete. Pace per team: 1) 🔵 RBR quickest 2) 🟠 McL +0.04s/lap…
Last year's race pace, when Red Bull seemed unbeatable (PER was way quicker than the 3rd best driver!), and Ferrari was second fastest in front of McLaren, Mercedes, and Aston (‼️)
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SAUDI ARABIAN GP - RACE START ANALYSIS
🟠Piastri was around 2-tenths quicker to 200km/h than 🔵Verstappen at the start, getting the lead!🔥
1) Could use more throttle after the clutch release, gaining a ~10km/h advantage;
2) Maintained that advantage, gaining more meters;
3) VER braked super-late, going wide.
VER’s speed profile is flat after each upshift, but that seems to be an issue in his telemetry and not a real phenomenon (notice how quickly his speed catches up right afterwards).
He upshifted at similar rpm as NOR, but later in time as his speed was lower.
Best starters:
ALO, both Haas drivers, BOR. STR was quick on Hards!
Worst:
LEC, HAD, LAW, SAI.
🟠Piastri was around 2-tenths quicker to 200km/h than 🔵Verstappen at the start, getting the lead!🔥
1) Could use more throttle after the clutch release, gaining a ~10km/h advantage;
2) Maintained that advantage, gaining more meters;
3) VER braked super-late, going wide.
VER’s speed profile is flat after each upshift, but that seems to be an issue in his telemetry and not a real phenomenon (notice how quickly his speed catches up right afterwards).
He upshifted at similar rpm as NOR, but later in time as his speed was lower.
Best starters:
ALO, both Haas drivers, BOR. STR was quick on Hards!
Worst:
LEC, HAD, LAW, SAI.
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BEST QUALI LAP ANALYSIS
🔵 VER could stay full-throttle for more time than anyone else;
🟠 PIA did a mistake in T9 (worst min. speed there, lost 0.040s to his prev. lap);
🟢 RUS had the highest minimum speed in both the slowest and fastest corner;
🔴 LEC's low drag helped him on the straights, yet he was still competitive in the fast T9. He was the only one among the 4 to be faster (1km/h) at the end vs at the start of the lap (the ERS deployment looks sustainable, aided by low drag).
❌ Things to improve:
- RBR: deployment sustainability (or was it on purpose💡)?
- McL: drag;
- Merc: nothing specifically (balanced performance, just slower);
- Traction, slow corners, tyre temp management.
[Top speed measured on the longest straight, so VER's value is unaffected by the tow.]
🔵 VER could stay full-throttle for more time than anyone else;
🟠 PIA did a mistake in T9 (worst min. speed there, lost 0.040s to his prev. lap);
🟢 RUS had the highest minimum speed in both the slowest and fastest corner;
🔴 LEC's low drag helped him on the straights, yet he was still competitive in the fast T9. He was the only one among the 4 to be faster (1km/h) at the end vs at the start of the lap (the ERS deployment looks sustainable, aided by low drag).
❌ Things to improve:
- RBR: deployment sustainability (or was it on purpose💡)?
- McL: drag;
- Merc: nothing specifically (balanced performance, just slower);
- Traction, slow corners, tyre temp management.
[Top speed measured on the longest straight, so VER's value is unaffected by the tow.]
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Formula Data Analysis
BEST QUALI LAP ANALYSIS 🔵 VER could stay full-throttle for more time than anyone else; 🟠 PIA did a mistake in T9 (worst min. speed there, lost 0.040s to his prev. lap); 🟢 RUS had the highest minimum speed in both the slowest and fastest corner; 🔴 LEC's low…
The 'ERS' bit is interesting in my opinion, so here is some info:
Each team chooses an ERS deployment strategy for the lap, to minimise laptime for a given energy amount.
We DON'T expect the finish speed to be the same as the start speed, as it depends on where the finish line is (Higher finish speed is better if it is closer to the braking point; higher start speed is better if it's closer to the corner exit).
Still, for a given track, we expect this strategy to be similar for everyone. The 6km/h difference between RBR (5 lost) and Ferrari (1 gained) is strange, so it's either due to overdeployment early in the lap by RBR (or inefficient ERS) or underemployment by Ferrari (or efficient ERS).
The tow Max got from TSU definitely affected that metric (but not the one about the top speed, which I evaluated on the longest straight).
However, even when considering his previous lap (no tow), he still lost speed at the end vs the start of the lap.
Each team chooses an ERS deployment strategy for the lap, to minimise laptime for a given energy amount.
We DON'T expect the finish speed to be the same as the start speed, as it depends on where the finish line is (Higher finish speed is better if it is closer to the braking point; higher start speed is better if it's closer to the corner exit).
Still, for a given track, we expect this strategy to be similar for everyone. The 6km/h difference between RBR (5 lost) and Ferrari (1 gained) is strange, so it's either due to overdeployment early in the lap by RBR (or inefficient ERS) or underemployment by Ferrari (or efficient ERS).
The tow Max got from TSU definitely affected that metric (but not the one about the top speed, which I evaluated on the longest straight).
However, even when considering his previous lap (no tow), he still lost speed at the end vs the start of the lap.
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SAUDI ARABIAN GP - VER & PIA Pace per Stint
🔵Verstappen was quicker than 🟠Piastri on both stints... but was his/RBR's potential higher?
Hard to tell🤔
Stint 1 (M): VER led, PIA 0.132s/lap slower
Stint 2 (H): PIA led, PIA 0.028s/lap slower
Takeaways:
- VER was more consistent (less variable laptimes).
- PIA was closer on Hards/low fuel than on Mediums/high fuel. He had reasons to manage during the 1st stint (waiting for the penalty), but also during the 2nd (was in front with a good lead).
- Hards lasted A LOT: both drivers improved laptimes throughout the 2nd stint! (Fuel burn impacted more than tyre deg).
- PIA's deg on Hards looked worse than VER's.
Made via @JMP_software
🔵Verstappen was quicker than 🟠Piastri on both stints... but was his/RBR's potential higher?
Hard to tell🤔
Stint 1 (M): VER led, PIA 0.132s/lap slower
Stint 2 (H): PIA led, PIA 0.028s/lap slower
Takeaways:
- VER was more consistent (less variable laptimes).
- PIA was closer on Hards/low fuel than on Mediums/high fuel. He had reasons to manage during the 1st stint (waiting for the penalty), but also during the 2nd (was in front with a good lead).
- Hards lasted A LOT: both drivers improved laptimes throughout the 2nd stint! (Fuel burn impacted more than tyre deg).
- PIA's deg on Hards looked worse than VER's.
Made via @JMP_software
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Did you know?
PIA was much quicker through the fast corners on lap 49 than on lap 23, even though his tyres were much fresher earlier. How?! 🤔
Physics explains it!
The maximum lateral acceleration is:
ay=μ(g + 0.5 ρ Cx A / m v^2)
🟢 μ: tyre-road grip coefficient (decreases with tyre wear)
🔵 v: speed (Downforce is proportional to speed squared)
🔴 m: car mass (decreases as fuel burns)
Here's how:
- Slow corners (green): speed (v) is low ➔ ay is ~μg, mainly tyre grip, and his pace didn’t improve much there!
- Fast corners (blue): speed is high ➔ downforce dominates. As mass (m) drops with fuel burn, the relative effect of downforce becomes even greater!
I hope you learnt something today, I love explaining these things! 🤩
Made via @JMP_software
PIA was much quicker through the fast corners on lap 49 than on lap 23, even though his tyres were much fresher earlier. How?! 🤔
Physics explains it!
The maximum lateral acceleration is:
ay=μ(g + 0.5 ρ Cx A / m v^2)
🟢 μ: tyre-road grip coefficient (decreases with tyre wear)
🔵 v: speed (Downforce is proportional to speed squared)
🔴 m: car mass (decreases as fuel burns)
Here's how:
- Slow corners (green): speed (v) is low ➔ ay is ~μg, mainly tyre grip, and his pace didn’t improve much there!
- Fast corners (blue): speed is high ➔ downforce dominates. As mass (m) drops with fuel burn, the relative effect of downforce becomes even greater!
I hope you learnt something today, I love explaining these things! 🤩
Made via @JMP_software
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