BAHRAIN PREVIEW
3 DRS zones, 2 of which follow a slow corner: overtakes will be plenty (unlike in Suzuka)!
Like Suzuka, however, the race will be a 1-stopper due to the hardest compounds (C1-C3).
🟠 McL’s high drag will be handy in Sector 2;
🔵 RBR’s low drag in Sectors 1 and 3.
🔴 Ferrari is finally bringing a new floor, which would solve (part of) their issues: in 2018 and 2019 they finally regained performance once in Bahrain.
📸: @pirellisport
3 DRS zones, 2 of which follow a slow corner: overtakes will be plenty (unlike in Suzuka)!
Like Suzuka, however, the race will be a 1-stopper due to the hardest compounds (C1-C3).
🟠 McL’s high drag will be handy in Sector 2;
🔵 RBR’s low drag in Sectors 1 and 3.
🔴 Ferrari is finally bringing a new floor, which would solve (part of) their issues: in 2018 and 2019 they finally regained performance once in Bahrain.
📸: @pirellisport
❤13👍5🔥5
BAHRAIN GP - REAR WINGS
Bahrain requires less loaded wings than Suzuka - Despite that, McL and Ferrari are using the same ones seen in Japan.
Mercedes' top speed was the highest in quali; despite that, they've further reduced the wing load.
RBR, instead, has increased it!💡
Many unexpected choices: expect some teams to change spec for qualifying.
📸 @AlbertFabrega
Bahrain requires less loaded wings than Suzuka - Despite that, McL and Ferrari are using the same ones seen in Japan.
Mercedes' top speed was the highest in quali; despite that, they've further reduced the wing load.
RBR, instead, has increased it!💡
Many unexpected choices: expect some teams to change spec for qualifying.
📸 @AlbertFabrega
❤8👍2🥰1
Formula Data Analysis
BAHRAIN GP - REAR WINGS Bahrain requires less loaded wings than Suzuka - Despite that, McL and Ferrari are using the same ones seen in Japan. Mercedes' top speed was the highest in quali; despite that, they've further reduced the wing load. RBR, instead…
Rear wings in Suzuka and top speeds in qualifying:
❤8👌4👍1
BAHRAIN GP - PRACTICE 1
TOP SPEEDS vs 2024 QUALIFYING
Mercedes is running a very unloaded rear wing this year, a choice maybe influenced by having the worst top speed last year!
They are 8km/h faster already (partly due to wind), yet there are still 4 faster teams!
McL's downforce is excellent: having high drag is a good tradeoff .👌
TOP SPEEDS vs 2024 QUALIFYING
Mercedes is running a very unloaded rear wing this year, a choice maybe influenced by having the worst top speed last year!
They are 8km/h faster already (partly due to wind), yet there are still 4 faster teams!
McL's downforce is excellent: having high drag is a good tradeoff .👌
👍7❤1
Formula Data Analysis
BAHRAIN GP - PRACTICE 1 TOP SPEEDS vs 2024 QUALIFYING Mercedes is running a very unloaded rear wing this year, a choice maybe influenced by having the worst top speed last year! They are 8km/h faster already (partly due to wind), yet there are still 4 faster…
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Bahrain GP - Analyses Repository — Formula Data Analysis
Post by Formula Data Analysis
JAPANESE GP - RACE
THE EFFECT OF DIRTY AIR - VISUALISED! 💡
🟠 NOR following 🔵 VER closely through the mighty 130R corner on Lap 3
The slipstream reduced the aero forces:
1) Before the corner: less drag➡️NOR gaining;
2) Into the corner: less downforce➡️NOR had to lift 20%, losing 6km/h; his lateral acceleration was 0.6g lower than VER's!
Notice that VER remained full-throttle, yet still lost speed, due to:
1) Energy dissipation caused by cornering forces🛞;
2) Decreased ERS deployment🪫(Not smart to deploy energy right before a braking point)!
Made via @JMP_software
THE EFFECT OF DIRTY AIR - VISUALISED! 💡
🟠 NOR following 🔵 VER closely through the mighty 130R corner on Lap 3
The slipstream reduced the aero forces:
1) Before the corner: less drag➡️NOR gaining;
2) Into the corner: less downforce➡️NOR had to lift 20%, losing 6km/h; his lateral acceleration was 0.6g lower than VER's!
Notice that VER remained full-throttle, yet still lost speed, due to:
1) Energy dissipation caused by cornering forces🛞;
2) Decreased ERS deployment🪫(Not smart to deploy energy right before a braking point)!
Made via @JMP_software
❤11
BAHRAIN GP - PRACTICE 2 DATA ANALYSIS
FP2 data shows that 🟠 McL's key to performance was... unmatched downforce!💡
1) HEAD TO HEAD:
🟠PIA lost 0.25s to 🟢RUS in the first 2 straight due to much higher drag (7km/h top speed deficit).
His downforce advantage was insane, though: check out how much less he could lift in T5/6/7! He also reached much greater braking g's.
To put things into perspective:
The best non-McL driver (RUS, P3 in FP2) lost over 0.7s in sector 2 to PIA!
2) TOP SPEEDS:
Two McL cars at the bottom. ⚪️BEA reached 332km/h (+14km/h vs NOR)!
It seems that it was due to a higher engine mode (gaining on all straights vs his longer runs).
3) AERO PERFORMANCE:
Most teams are close together, around the center of the graph (average characteristics).
McL is a total outlier.
FP2 data shows that 🟠 McL's key to performance was... unmatched downforce!💡
1) HEAD TO HEAD:
🟠PIA lost 0.25s to 🟢RUS in the first 2 straight due to much higher drag (7km/h top speed deficit).
His downforce advantage was insane, though: check out how much less he could lift in T5/6/7! He also reached much greater braking g's.
To put things into perspective:
The best non-McL driver (RUS, P3 in FP2) lost over 0.7s in sector 2 to PIA!
2) TOP SPEEDS:
Two McL cars at the bottom. ⚪️BEA reached 332km/h (+14km/h vs NOR)!
It seems that it was due to a higher engine mode (gaining on all straights vs his longer runs).
3) AERO PERFORMANCE:
Most teams are close together, around the center of the graph (average characteristics).
McL is a total outlier.
❤10🥰1
Formula Data Analysis
BAHRAIN GP - QUALIFYING Hear this: No driver had a lower top speed than 🟠PIA, yet he still got the pole! 🤯 His very loaded setup gave him unmatched downforce, losing on the straights but gaining everywhere else! 🟢Merc, 🔴Ferrari, 🟣Alpine, and 🔵RBR behaved…
All the drivers
Teams who opted for two different aerodynamic setups:
- Williams (ALB +6km/h vs SAI);
- Racing Bulls (HAD + 6 vs LAW);
- McLaren (NOR + 4 vs PIA);
- Haas (OCO + 6 vs BEA).
Teams who opted for two different aerodynamic setups:
- Williams (ALB +6km/h vs SAI);
- Racing Bulls (HAD + 6 vs LAW);
- McLaren (NOR + 4 vs PIA);
- Haas (OCO + 6 vs BEA).
👏5❤2👍1
BAHRAIN GP - LONG RUNS 👀
🔴 SOFT
1) NOR 1:38.268 [13 Laps]
2) RUS +0.260 [9]
3) HAM +0.548 [6]
4) VER +0.575 [7]
5) ANT +0.681 [10]
🟡 MEDIUM
1) LEC 1:38.621 [7 Laps]
2) TSU +0.136 [10]
⚪️ HARD
1) PIA 1:38.081 [7]
Even the soft has excellent durability!
A one-stop strategy is feasible.
🔴 SOFT
1) NOR 1:38.268 [13 Laps]
2) RUS +0.260 [9]
3) HAM +0.548 [6]
4) VER +0.575 [7]
5) ANT +0.681 [10]
🟡 MEDIUM
1) LEC 1:38.621 [7 Laps]
2) TSU +0.136 [10]
⚪️ HARD
1) PIA 1:38.081 [7]
Even the soft has excellent durability!
A one-stop strategy is feasible.
👍12❤2
Bahrain rarely disappoints 🔥
- Fantastic season start for PIA
- McL’s high drag didn’t help NOR attacking RUS
- Ferrari’s pace was neutralized by the safety car
- Frustrating race for VER
- Fantastic result for GAS (P7)
- Haas double points (OCO P8, BEA P10)
- Solid TSU
The fight for race wins is on fire: we have 4 teams with very similar performance, and McL (who’s clearly in front of the other 3) isn’t miles in front of the others.
The developments will decide the championship: remember what the 2024 season looked like after the first 6 races?
What's YOUR take?🤔
- Fantastic season start for PIA
- McL’s high drag didn’t help NOR attacking RUS
- Ferrari’s pace was neutralized by the safety car
- Frustrating race for VER
- Fantastic result for GAS (P7)
- Haas double points (OCO P8, BEA P10)
- Solid TSU
The fight for race wins is on fire: we have 4 teams with very similar performance, and McL (who’s clearly in front of the other 3) isn’t miles in front of the others.
The developments will decide the championship: remember what the 2024 season looked like after the first 6 races?
What's YOUR take?🤔
❤19👍6🔥2🫡2
Formula Data Analysis
BAHRAIN GP - RACE PACE PIA was unbeatable: 0.39s/lap quicker than his teammate ON AVERAGE! Pace per team 1) McL quickest 2) Mercedes +0.48/lap 3) Ferrari +0.50 4) RBR +0.90❗️ 5) Alpine +0.93‼️ McL’s advantage over the 2nd best car (0.48s) is the same that…
The pace last year:
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QUALI PACE - FIRST 4 GPs
🟠 McL had been even more dominant (by a tiny 0.001%!) than RedBull was last year!
🔵 RBR's performance dropped sharply (0.335% gap increase): 3rd quickest in 2025.
🟢 BIG improvement by Mercedes, who is now 2nd fastest.
🔴 SF25 has been slower in quali than the race-focused SF24 (slowest team in 2025).
Made via @JMP_software
🟠 McL had been even more dominant (by a tiny 0.001%!) than RedBull was last year!
🔵 RBR's performance dropped sharply (0.335% gap increase): 3rd quickest in 2025.
🟢 BIG improvement by Mercedes, who is now 2nd fastest.
🔴 SF25 has been slower in quali than the race-focused SF24 (slowest team in 2025).
Made via @JMP_software
❤8😭5👍4
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
❤15👍1
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
❤9👍3