As with the analysis of some of the qualifying laps for the Australian GP , a few notes must be taken before getting into the timing data:
- The comparison involves drivers' flying laps of which I had access to. So, if you don't find data for an specific car's/driver's lap, that is because a video of it was not available. Obviously, only laps which shows a car's full potential are considered for such comparison.
- Due to Intellectual Property Rights, I will not share any image, or footage, which legally belongs to the Formula One World Championship Limited ® or any other associated FORMULA ONE GROUP COMPANY. As such, aerial images and screenshots from a simulator will be used to denote the measured segments.
- The full ( nearly full, on Raikkonen's case ) laps which comprises this comparison are : Hamilton's pole lap, Vettel's first Q3 lap ( 1.32.086s ), Raikkonen's best Q3 lap ( 1.32.140s ) and Alonso's best Q2 lap ( 1.34.372s ). Additionally, there will be a timing data, through the fastest non flat-out corner of the circuit (Turn 8) , from a few other laps, in order to compare the downforce levels of various cars. Such laps are Hulkenberg's Q3 partial lap ( 1.33.580s ), a Verstappen's Q1 lap and Sainz's best Q2 lap (1.34.150).
- Hamilton's laps, used during the video analysis, is the only one with 50 FPS ( frames per second ) , which yields more accuracy than the other videos, which have 25/30 FPS. Provided a flawless video ( no segment with any freezing whatsoever, interruption or etc ) , which is not always the case, the margin of error is almost certainly not greater than 1.3% on any measured segment as I have done, literally, dozens of similar video analysis and validated it's resulting data against telemetry data_ which were synchronised with the analysed videos' images and thus allowed me to calculate the average speeds of cars through an specific segment and deduce what should be the relative time gap between them, through that segment_ and have never found a discrepancy greater than the mentioned value ( usually, the margin of error is way bellow 1% ) .
- As happened with the videos from the Australian Qualifying, the telemetry data _such as speedometer and RPM information or throttle's/brake's input_ will be of limited use here because it was being displayed out of synchrony with the footage, on all videos. As such, only basic speed information will be used in this comparison like : the maximum speed achieved by each car, on each relevant straigtht, and the minimum cornering speeds during the curves.
- Telemetry is not available on Alonso's and Sainz' videos.
1. First Measurement: From the start to just before the first corner
from here
to here
Driver/lap Max Speed(km/h) Time(s)
Hamilton's pole 1.31.678 328 5.88
Raikkonen's best Q3 1.32.140 325
Vettel's first Q3 1.32.086 328 5.88
Alonso's best Q2 1.34.372 6.06
Raikkonen's lap starts already almost into the first corner, so it's impossible to measure it's time on this segment.
Hamilton and Vettel are on par in this part while Alonso loses almost 2 tenths of a second even before the first corner.
2. Second Measurement: Turns 1 and 2
from the last video game(simulator) screenshot to here
Driver/lap Min Speed(km/h) Time(s)
Hamilton 96 6.84
Raikkonen 101 6.83
Vettel 99 6.96
Alonso 7.23
Relatively long segment involving Turns 1 and 2 with the cars being tested through, initially, high speed cornering and gradually tightening up to a low apex speed at T2.
They all slightly misses the apex at T1 (high speed part) but all hits the apex at T2 (low speed part).
Raikkonen does a wider line through T2 and that, eventhough allows him a higher speed and better time through T2, compromises his line for T3.
3. Third Measurement: Turn 3
from the last video game(simulator) screenshot to here
Driver/lap Min Speed(km/h) Time(s)
Hamilton 86 3.14
Raikkonen 83 3.16
Vettel 92 3.08
Alonso 3.23
Due to his bad positioning after T2, Raikkonen does a very bad line through T3 and not only compromises his speed through this corner but considerably harms his exit.
Alonso was relatively quite slow here but that's partially because he did a very tight line to allow an early acceleration for him.
Vettel was the quickest through this one and managed to do that without compromising his exit of the corner, as you'll see next.
Hamilton 86 3.14
Raikkonen 83 3.16
Vettel 92 3.08
Alonso 3.23
Due to his bad positioning after T2, Raikkonen does a very bad line through T3 and not only compromises his speed through this corner but considerably harms his exit.
Alonso was relatively quite slow here but that's partially because he did a very tight line to allow an early acceleration for him.
Vettel was the quickest through this one and managed to do that without compromising his exit of the corner, as you'll see next.
4. Fourth Measurement: The following flat-out zone, including Turns 4 and 5
from the last video game(simulator) screenshot to here
from the last video game(simulator) screenshot to here
Driver/lap Max Speed(km/h) Time(s)
Hamilton 295 8.64
Raikkonen 292 8.84
Vettel 295 8.6
It's impossible to make a reliable measurement on Alonso's video because Movistar(a Spanish broadcaster) changes the image from a split screen(between Alonso's onboard and Pedro de la Rosa commentating the lap) to a full screen of Alonso's onboard.
Raikkonen pays a very high price, for his line through T3, here and loses around 2.5 tenths to Vettel. Kimi's best sector 1 time is from another lap, during this one(his fastest Q3 lap) he's around 1 tenth up on himself.
Hamilton 295 8.64
Raikkonen 292 8.84
Vettel 295 8.6
It's impossible to make a reliable measurement on Alonso's video because Movistar(a Spanish broadcaster) changes the image from a split screen(between Alonso's onboard and Pedro de la Rosa commentating the lap) to a full screen of Alonso's onboard.
Raikkonen pays a very high price, for his line through T3, here and loses around 2.5 tenths to Vettel. Kimi's best sector 1 time is from another lap, during this one(his fastest Q3 lap) he's around 1 tenth up on himself.
5. Fifth Measurement: The braking for Turn 6
from the last video game(simulator) screenshot to here
Driver/lap Time(s)
Hamilton 2.2
Raikkonen 2.14
Vettel 2.2
Alonso 2.25
Raikkonen has a very strong braking for Turn 6 and, eventhough that didn't make him miss the apex of the corner by a significant amount, it mades him goes a little wider into the it.
Hamilton 2.2
Raikkonen 2.14
Vettel 2.2
Alonso 2.25
Raikkonen has a very strong braking for Turn 6 and, eventhough that didn't make him miss the apex of the corner by a significant amount, it mades him goes a little wider into the it.
6. Sixth Measurement: Turn 6
from the last video game(simulator) screenshot to here
from the last video game(simulator) screenshot to here
Driver/lap Min Speed(km/h) Time(s)
Hamilton 80 2.64
Raikkonen 79 2.74
Vettel 79 2.74
Alonso 2.72
Hamilton 80 2.64
Raikkonen 79 2.74
Vettel 79 2.74
Alonso 2.72
Hamilton had a perfect line through the corner, as had Alonso, and gained a good amount of time over the other 3 but he had a little oversteer exiting the corner and that will affect his time on the next measurement.
Vettel slightly missed the apex and had a wide exit, leading him to delay the acceleration out of the corner.
7. Seventh Measurement: The straight leading to Turn 7
from the last video game(simulator) screenshot to here
Driver/lap Time(s)
Hamilton had a perfect line through the corner, as had Alonso, and gained a good amount of time over the other 3 but he had a little oversteer exiting the corner and that will affect his time on the next measurement.
Vettel slightly missed the apex and had a wide exit, leading him to delay the acceleration out of the corner.
7. Seventh Measurement: The straight leading to Turn 7
from the last video game(simulator) screenshot to here
Driver/lap Time(s)
Hamilton 4.28
Raikkonen 4.27
Vettel 4.3
Alonso 4.3
Hamilton 4.28
Raikkonen 4.27
Vettel 4.3
Alonso 4.3
Hamilton's ovesteer meant he didn't gain further time on this acceleration zone. Vettel's wide exit didn't help with his acceleration and Alonso, despite his flawless driving, still couldn't quite keep up with the best.
Hamilton's ovesteer meant he didn't gain further time on this acceleration zone. Vettel's wide exit didn't help with his acceleration and Alonso, despite his flawless driving, still couldn't quite keep up with the best.
