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:
❤2👍2
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
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!
👍6❤2
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
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👍3
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!
👍8❤2👏1
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.
👍8🔥4❤1
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?
👀🤔
🔥18👍6❤3🥰1