F1 Data Analysis | Verstappen supreme at Zandvoort, fierce battle for P2

It is Verstappen who can leave Circuit Zandvoort with his head held high on Friday night. Although the Dutchman did not drive the fastest time on Friday, he expressed that it is not easy to drive a quick lap on the circuit in the dunes. The circuit is narrow, and Verstappen experienced interrupting traffic on more than one occasion. 

Verstappen supreme in long runs

The race simulations run do give a fair picture. With more fuel on board, Verstappen was by far the fastest. Verstappen drove a long stint on the soft Pirelli tyre in his RB19. Verstappen's fastest lap was a 1.15.8. Verstappen didn't drive a time slower than 1.16.4 (except when he was held up).

Above all, Verstappen's consistency does not manage to match the competition. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell also drove a 1.15.8 in their respective long runs, but where they sometimes achieved times in the 1.16s, Verstappen drove 1.15.8 three times and another 1.15.9. Hamilton and Russell, by the way, do this on the medium tyre, while Verstappen completed his lap times on the softer tyre.

How the medium tyre compares to the soft tyre is difficult to say at this stage. Sergio Perez drove a 1.16.1 as his fastest time but otherwise has a very inconsistent stint slower than the Mercedes drivers.

 

 

 

 

 

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Exciting behind Verstappen

Things are very close for the drivers on the soft tyres. Nobody matches Verstappen's 1.15.8. Lando Norris drove a 1.16.1, Carlos Sainz 1.16.4 (as does Leclerc) and Fernando Alonso in a short stint 1.16.3. Charles Leclerc's stint is particularly notable. He started with a 1.17.0 and finished with a 1.16.4. A slightly fuller tank or a lower engine setting than the competition?

Aston Martin are an unknown. Strong in FP1, invisible in FP2. Alonso's long run was shorter than the rest. However, Aston Martin also brought the most updates this weekend and, therefore, have a lot to learn on Friday. The same goes for Mercedes, who also seemed more concerned with longer runs than real pace over one lap.

Alpine also seems to be a little closer to it than usual. On the circuit where engine power is less essential, Alpine are suddenly closing in. Esteban Ocon runs between 1.16.0 and 1.16.8 on the hard tyre. Pierre Gasly's run does show problems with tyre wear. The Frenchman starts strongly with a 1.16.0 but gets into the 1.17s faster than his rivals.

Williams' quick laps are mainly due to having less fuel in the car. Alexander Albon's fastest time of 1.16.3 on the medium tyre and finished at 1.17.2. Perhaps a challenger to Aston Martin and Alpine, but attacking the top as Albon's fast time suggested is out of the question.

As expected, Verstappen is the big favourite. Over one lap, competitors might still be able to threaten him for pole position, but in the long run, Verstappen is untouchable. That's also the case for his teammate, who must work on Friday night to avoid making up too many places in the race.

Behind him, things are very close. Perez is surrounded by at least Norris, but Mercedes also seems to have found some pace with the new updates. Aston Martin might still be struggling too much with the update package, so their true pace won't come out until tomorrow. Ferrari? There's a big question mark surrounding the Italians. Did they have more fuel than their rivals? Long run pace showed a little more of its true nature, but even that pace was nowhere near Red Bull, Mercedes and McLaren. And then there is the chance of rain. Then, everything can be thrown upside down.