Top Speed Comparison - Melbourne

Top Speed Comparison - Melbourne

I posted these comparisons throughout the 2006 & 2007 seasons to illustrate changes
in top speeds as measured through the speed traps. Previously I restricted the
comparison to speeds recorded during the three segments of qualifying, since the
best laps are usually recorded in those sessions. For 2008 I propose to consider
the top speeds recorded in the other sessions (free practice and the race).
However, at this time I have not located any speed trap data for the 2007
Australian GP, so the 2007 data is not quite complete.


The first table compares the 2007 team/driver combination with the equivalent 2008
team/driver - the same driver if possible, otherwise the 2007 driver is compared to
his 2008 replacement. This comparison is intended as a team comparison, but the first
(driver) table is also of some interest - but should be read with care.

Notes

All teams have retained their name except for Spyker-Ferrari which has become
Force India-Ferrari.

'S#' Session in which the top speed was recorded (P1/P2/P3/Q/R)
'Diff' difference in top speed (km/hr)
'%Dif' difference in top speed (as percentage of 2007 speed)

Australian GP 2007-08

2007 2008
Team-Engine Driver S# km/h Driver S# km/h Diff. %Dif.
========================================================================
Spyker-Ferrari Albers Q 298.4 Fisichella Q 304.4 +6.0 +2.01
McLaren-Mercedes Alonso P3 304.5 Kovalainen R 308.3 +3.8 +1.25
Spyker-Ferrari Sutil Q 301.0 Sutil P3 304.3 +3.3 +1.10
McLaren-Mercedes Hamilton Q 304.4 Hamilton Q 306.2 +1.8 +0.59
Toyota Schumacher Q 303.7 Glock P3 304.3 +0.6 +0.20
Ferrari Massa Q 306.9 Massa P3 307.5 +0.6 +0.20
Toyota Trulli Q 303.8 Trulli Q 304.3 +0.5 +0.16
BMW Sauber-BMW Kubica Q 302.1 Kubica Q 302.5 +0.4 +0.13
Red Bull-Renault Coulthard P3 305.3 Coulthard P3 305.5 +0.2 +0.07

BMW Sauber-BMW Heidfeld Q 302.4 Heidfeld Q 302.4

T Rosso-Ferrari Liuzzi Q 305.7 Bourdais Q 305.1 -0.6 -0.20
Williams-Toyota Rosberg Q 305.3 Rosberg Q 304.6 -0.7 -0.23
Ferrari Räikkönen Q 308.3 Räikkönen P3 307.3 -1.0 -0.32
Red Bull-Renault Webber Q 306.6 Webber P3 304.9 -1.7 -0.55
Williams-Toyota Wurz Q 306.5 Nakajima R 304.7 -1.8 -0.59
T Rosso-Ferrari Speed Q 306.3 Vettel Q 304.4 -1.9 -0.62
S Aguri-Honda Sato Q 302.9 Sato Q 300.7 -2.2 -0.73
Honda Button Q 302.8 Button Q 300.2 -2.6 -0.86
S Aguri-Honda Davidson Q 302.6 Davidson Q 300.0 -2.6 -0.86
Renault Fisichella Q 305.3 Alonso R 302.3 -3.0 -0.98
Renault Kovalainen Q 304.9 Piquet P3 301.8 -3.1 -1.02
Honda Barrichello Q 306.0 Barrichello P3 301.4 -4.6 -1.50

Nine driver combinations have gone faster, one (Heidfeld) stayed the same,
and 12 went slower.


The second table compares the best speed achieved by each team (IE the top
speed of both drivers), and as such is a better comparison.

2007 2008
Team-Engine Driver S# km/h Driver S# km/h Diff. %Diff.
========================================================================
McLaren-Mercedes Alonso P3 304.5 Kovalainen R 308.3 +3.8 +1.25
Spyker-Ferrari Sutil Q 301.0 Fisichella Q 304.4 +3.4 +1.13
Toyota Trulli Q 303.8 Trulli Q 304.3 +0.5 +0.16
BMW Sauber-BMW Heidfeld Q 302.4 Heidfeld Q 302.5 +0.1 +0.03

Ferrari Räikkönen Q 308.3 Massa P3 307.5 -0.8 -0.26
Red Bull-Renault Webber Q 306.6 Coulthard P3 305.5 -1.1 -0.36
T Rosso-Ferrari Speed Q 306.3 Bourdais Q 305.1 -1.2 -0.39
Williams-Toyota Wurz Q 306.5 Nakajima R 304.7 -1.8 -0.59
S Aguri-Honda Sato Q 302.9 Sato Q 300.7 -2.2 -0.73
Renault Fisichella Q 305.3 Alonso R 302.3 -3.0 -0.98
Honda Barrichello Q 306.0 Barrichello P3 301.4 -4.6 -1.50

McLaren have made the biggest gain, but Force India, Toyota and BMW Sauber
have also improved.

Honda have slowed by the biggest margin - 4.6 km/h, with Renault only
slightly less bad.

All data from www .formula1,com

--

Brian W Lawrence
Wantage,
Oxfordshire, UK
Brian_W_Lawrence@msn,com