SÃO PAULO GP 🇧🇷 | RACE: TOP SPEED PER LAP
🚀 With a fresh power unit, Verstappen hit the highest top speed (346 km/h, same as low-drag Sauber) in his stunning charge from pit lane to the podium, despite an early puncture!
Reminiscent of Hamilton’s 2017/2021 Brazil comebacks.
🏁 Fastest race pace too, even in traffic; full analysis tomorrow!
🚀 With a fresh power unit, Verstappen hit the highest top speed (346 km/h, same as low-drag Sauber) in his stunning charge from pit lane to the podium, despite an early puncture!
Reminiscent of Hamilton’s 2017/2021 Brazil comebacks.
🏁 Fastest race pace too, even in traffic; full analysis tomorrow!
❤6👏3
SÃO PAULO GP 🇧🇷 | RACE: TYRE DEG AND STRATEGIES
The fact that we had different strategies does not change this: compounds weren’t equal at all performance-wise!
🟡 Medium > 🔴 Soft >> ⚪️ Hard
Hards were dropped after poor pace, while Softs ran only as the mandatory second compound: Mediums had better degradation AND pace!
The fact that we had different strategies does not change this: compounds weren’t equal at all performance-wise!
🟡 Medium > 🔴 Soft >> ⚪️ Hard
Hards were dropped after poor pace, while Softs ran only as the mandatory second compound: Mediums had better degradation AND pace!
❤11👏1
AVERAGE GAP TO POLE AFTER 21 RACES
🟠 McLaren, 🟣 Alpine: the only two #F1 teams that got farther from pole as the season went on!
Everyone else closed the gap; ⚪️ Haas clawed back over a third of its deficit.
In the 2nd half, 🟡 Racing Bulls overtook 🔵 Williams, while Alpine went from 7th to last!
Ferrari improved more (0.18% closer) than Mercedes (0.09%), who did better than RBR (0.03%): the top 4 teams got much closer by the season's end.
Made via @JMP_software
🟠 McLaren, 🟣 Alpine: the only two #F1 teams that got farther from pole as the season went on!
Everyone else closed the gap; ⚪️ Haas clawed back over a third of its deficit.
In the 2nd half, 🟡 Racing Bulls overtook 🔵 Williams, while Alpine went from 7th to last!
Ferrari improved more (0.18% closer) than Mercedes (0.09%), who did better than RBR (0.03%): the top 4 teams got much closer by the season's end.
Made via @JMP_software
❤8👏3
LAS VEGAS GP | WING THURSDAY!
🔴 Ferrari's wing (Monza-spec) is the least loaded among top teams: the front surface will be minimal once DRS opens!
Will there be enough downforce to heat the rears?
🟠 McL's V-shaped lower plane preserves some downforce.
⚫️ Mercedes: much deeper lower plane.
⚪️ Racing Bull's upper plane is skinny and 'twisted': minimal drag without DRS, but little to be gained from it.
Ferrari and Sauber might set a new top speed record: ALB reached 369km/h last year!
📸 @AlbertFabrega
🔴 Ferrari's wing (Monza-spec) is the least loaded among top teams: the front surface will be minimal once DRS opens!
Will there be enough downforce to heat the rears?
🟠 McL's V-shaped lower plane preserves some downforce.
⚫️ Mercedes: much deeper lower plane.
⚪️ Racing Bull's upper plane is skinny and 'twisted': minimal drag without DRS, but little to be gained from it.
Ferrari and Sauber might set a new top speed record: ALB reached 369km/h last year!
📸 @AlbertFabrega
❤5
LAS VEGAS GP - PRACTICE 2 | DRS EFFECTIVENESS
I estimated how much each car’s Power/Drag ratio improved with DRS: NOR’s gain was just ONE THIRD of RBR’s and HAM’s!!!
🔵 RBR: VER 19.6% vs TSU 19.9%;
🔴 Ferrari: LEC 11.3% vs HAM 20.1%;
🟢 Mercedes: RUS 10.2% vs ANT 14.4%;
🟠 McL: NOR 6.7% vs PIA 17.6%.
❌ Less effective DRS;
❌ ERS deployment dropped with DRS ON.
Result:
Lowest top speed in FP2 (343km/h, -3km/h vs PIA,
-11km/h vs BEA)!
This smells 'lower ERS mode' to me...
I estimated how much each car’s Power/Drag ratio improved with DRS: NOR’s gain was just ONE THIRD of RBR’s and HAM’s!!!
🔵 RBR: VER 19.6% vs TSU 19.9%;
🔴 Ferrari: LEC 11.3% vs HAM 20.1%;
🟢 Mercedes: RUS 10.2% vs ANT 14.4%;
🟠 McL: NOR 6.7% vs PIA 17.6%.
❌ Less effective DRS;
❌ ERS deployment dropped with DRS ON.
Result:
Lowest top speed in FP2 (343km/h, -3km/h vs PIA,
-11km/h vs BEA)!
This smells 'lower ERS mode' to me...
❤6👍1
Throwback to last year, when the slipstream made Gasly's Alpine self-destruct!💥(Not his fault)
⚫️ Lap 13 (Reference)
🟣 Lap 14 (Failure)
He got a strong tow from TSU, reaching 361km/h under DRS: the engine reached 12937rpm in 8th gear, then exploded! (Speed dropping, no power afterwards).
The gear ratios are fixed for all tracks: Alpine's last gear is short, and the engine couldn't resist the resulting high rpm (and the hot air from TSU's car didn't help either).
Made via @JMP_software
⚫️ Lap 13 (Reference)
🟣 Lap 14 (Failure)
He got a strong tow from TSU, reaching 361km/h under DRS: the engine reached 12937rpm in 8th gear, then exploded! (Speed dropping, no power afterwards).
The gear ratios are fixed for all tracks: Alpine's last gear is short, and the engine couldn't resist the resulting high rpm (and the hot air from TSU's car didn't help either).
Made via @JMP_software
❤6
LAS VEGAS GP - QUALIFYING | Q3 TOP SPEEDS:
HAD 338 km/h;
RUS 336 km/h;
LAW 336 km/h;
SAI 334 km/h;
NOR 331 km/h;
VER 331 km/h;
PIA 331 km/h;
GAS 331 km/h;
ALO 329 km/h;
LEC 328 km/h.
Kudos to HAD, RUS, and LAW for setting a good laptime despite a low-drag aero configuration! Will help them in the race.
Kudos to HAD, RUS and LAW: good laptimes despite low-drag setups → Advantage in the race.
NOR/VER/PIA: same top speed!
ALO and LEC had the lowest top speed, and might struggle tomorrow (high drag with DRS off).
HAD 338 km/h;
RUS 336 km/h;
LAW 336 km/h;
SAI 334 km/h;
NOR 331 km/h;
VER 331 km/h;
PIA 331 km/h;
GAS 331 km/h;
ALO 329 km/h;
LEC 328 km/h.
Kudos to HAD, RUS, and LAW for setting a good laptime despite a low-drag aero configuration! Will help them in the race.
Kudos to HAD, RUS and LAW: good laptimes despite low-drag setups → Advantage in the race.
NOR/VER/PIA: same top speed!
ALO and LEC had the lowest top speed, and might struggle tomorrow (high drag with DRS off).
❤7
LAS VEGAS GP - RACE | McLaren's Plank Wear Issue
McLaren spotted the excessive plank wear far too late!
NOR lifted-and-coasted heavily in the last 4 laps, especially at Turn 10 (fastest one → worst for wear), losing up to 52km/h (~1s in one corner alone)!
Still, by Lap 46, the damage was already done.
PIA didn't lift at all.
VER is now within a win’s distance from the WDC leader - this is his smallest gap in 15 races (since Imola)!
If McLaren’s extreme tyre wear really came from porpoising, it should be track-specific and unlikely to reappear in the final two races.
If it’s a fundamental car issue, they’ll need to raise the ride height, losing key downforce… and Qatar is the worst track for that!
Via @JMP_software
McLaren spotted the excessive plank wear far too late!
NOR lifted-and-coasted heavily in the last 4 laps, especially at Turn 10 (fastest one → worst for wear), losing up to 52km/h (~1s in one corner alone)!
Still, by Lap 46, the damage was already done.
PIA didn't lift at all.
VER is now within a win’s distance from the WDC leader - this is his smallest gap in 15 races (since Imola)!
If McLaren’s extreme tyre wear really came from porpoising, it should be track-specific and unlikely to reappear in the final two races.
If it’s a fundamental car issue, they’ll need to raise the ride height, losing key downforce… and Qatar is the worst track for that!
Via @JMP_software
❤15
Formula Data Analysis
LAS VEGAS GP - RACE | McLaren's Plank Wear Issue McLaren spotted the excessive plank wear far too late! NOR lifted-and-coasted heavily in the last 4 laps, especially at Turn 10 (fastest one → worst for wear), losing up to 52km/h (~1s in one corner alone)!…
Here's a very comprehensive article on the team radios between McL's pit wall and their drivers:
https://www.racefans.net/2025/11/23/the-mclaren-radio-messages-which-show-they-tried-to-manage-plank-wear-during-the-race/
https://www.racefans.net/2025/11/23/the-mclaren-radio-messages-which-show-they-tried-to-manage-plank-wear-during-the-race/
RaceFans
The McLaren radio messages which show how they tried to manage plank wear
McLaren told their drivers to manage their speed in corners where plank wear would have been a concern, but couldn't avoid disqualification.
❤4🫡4😢2
LAS VEGAS GP - RACE | TOP SPEED PER LAP
With two races to go, Albon's and Williams' top speed record (369km/h, '24 Las Vegas) for this generation of cars will never be beaten!
HAM and BEA ALMOST beat the 2025 record (365km/h by HAM in Monza). HAM was stuck in traffic for so long that he exceeded 360km/h on FIVE laps!
With two races to go, Albon's and Williams' top speed record (369km/h, '24 Las Vegas) for this generation of cars will never be beaten!
HAM and BEA ALMOST beat the 2025 record (365km/h by HAM in Monza). HAM was stuck in traffic for so long that he exceeded 360km/h on FIVE laps!
🔥7❤4
QATAR GP - SPRINT QUALI ANALYSIS 🏁
🟠 PIA on pole with an excellent package: fastest in the slowest and fastest corners, plus good top speed.
⚫️ Mercedes: least drag... but lacked downforce.
🟢 ALO could stay full throttle for >70% of the lap!
🔵 RBR and 🔴 Ferrari had no strengths: lowest top speed despite modest downforce, slow in the slowest corner...
🟠 PIA on pole with an excellent package: fastest in the slowest and fastest corners, plus good top speed.
⚫️ Mercedes: least drag... but lacked downforce.
🟢 ALO could stay full throttle for >70% of the lap!
🔵 RBR and 🔴 Ferrari had no strengths: lowest top speed despite modest downforce, slow in the slowest corner...
❤12👍3