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…
The repository containing all the weekend analyses 📊👀
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Saudi Arabian GP - Analyses Repository — Formula Data Analysis
Post by Formula Data Analysis
👍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
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.
👍14❤8
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 (‼️)
❤12🤔2👍1
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.
👍11🔥3❤2