Now let’s look at the telemetry of the qualifications for this race, which may be very hot, despite the evening hours, and this will influence heavily the tires’ degradation.

First let’s analyze 1st and 2nd place in pole: Perez (VER) and Leclerc (LEC)

• Top speed performances are very similar, but LEC was not able to push his Ferrari at the top on the full throttle turn. We can appreciate in turn 13 and during turns sequence 24/25/26. Maybe this is partially due to a different aerodynamic setup, that is working at its top during the low speed turns, that we can find from turn 04 to 12, and partially to a better balance of the RB in managing traction
• LEC throttle use shows some issue during turns. He start to accelerate very early during the turn, but at the end he needs to release some power to complete the turn with a longer trajectory, loosing time. This doesn’t seem to be the very relevant point, as during the previous race, cause he can always recover the gap at turn exit
• LEC driving style during the low speed turns is more nervous compared to PER, but at the end very efficient , giving him the chance to gain on most of the pilot in this section
• The gear trace shows only a difference during low speed turns section, where LEC goes with higher gear, that most likely goes with his need to release throttle from time to time in this section
• The difference at the end of the lap comes just from the second half of the track, where PER is able to take advantage of the strength of RB during high speed turns
• The point of brake is very similar for the 2 drivers, and the only error we see is from LEC, that brakes too late on T23. As a result PER is able to accelerate better keeping an higher speed across the Turn, gaining an additional extra gap

First let’s analyze 2nd and 3rd place in pole: Leclerc (LEC) and Alonso (ALO)

• Very nice parallel between the 2 driver and once more the difference is arriving across the second half of the track. Compared to ALO, LEC/Ferrari are now the more balanced and LEC is able to get higher speed in this section creating the gap
• During the low speed turns they’re quite similar, even if completely different driving style. Different brake and acceleration profile, but not so different result. LEC is not able to make the difference in this section as compared to PER. ALO shows his abilities as driver are still at top level.
• We can see a real difference at turn 27, where LEC is gaining half of his advantage. ALO seems to be more prudent and brakes earlier. This is generating different lines on the turn, that allow ALO to drive the turn in a more speedy way, but at the end the anticipated brake is too important to give him a real chance to gain from a better line.
• AM has still to work on top speed as ALO is back in that value compared to Ferrari and even more to RB. RPM trace is good, but maybe there’s some HP missing in the powerunit
• The key point is once more the ability to keep pushing in high speed turns. That’s the real race breaking point

*Image by Freepik