Mercedes believe the Japanese Grand prix showed the tyre degradation advantage they once enjoyed has been eroded by their rivals.
Race data articles archive
Analysis: Why Red Bull believe Verstappen could have been “right in the game”
Formula 1
Posted onRed Bull were quicker than they expected in the race but Max Verstappen was compromised by the timing of the Safety Car period.
Analysis: Why Ferrari didn’t go aggressive on strategy in their fight with Red Bull
2023 Italian Grand Prix
Posted onOnce Carlos Sainz Jnr lost the lead on the 15th lap of the Italian Grand Prix, it was always unlikely Ferrari were going to be able to get it back.
How Perez lacked the pace to capitalise on his perfect pit call
2023 Dutch Grand Prix
Posted onSergio Perez made a superb strategy call on the first lap of the Dutch Grand Prix but didn’t have the pace to convert it into victory.
How Norris and McLaren used Spa rain and a ‘super-undercut’ to salvage points
2023 Belgian Grand Prix
Posted onPitting for soft tyres when the rain fell allowed Lando Norris to climb 12 places from last to salvage a surprise points finish
Why Wolff believes Mercedes were second-quickest despite Hamilton’s fall to fourth
2023 Hungarian Grand Prix
Posted onLewis Hamilton said Mercedes weren’t quick enough to beat McLaren but Mercedes’ Toto Wolff believes otherwise. Here’s what the data reveals.
How Russell’s surprise tyre choice shaped the British Grand Prix
2023 British Grand Prix
Posted onGeorge Russell surprised Mercedes’ rivals by starting the British Grand Prix on soft tyres – a call which shaped the race.
How Ferrari’s successful Safety Car “gamble” was prompted by their drivers
2023 Canadian Grand Prix
Posted onFerrari’s decision not to pit during the Safety Car period early in the Canadian Grand Prix looked like an error but turned out to be the making of their race.
Why Red Bull made “conservative” call not to start on same tyres as rivals
2023 Spanish Grand Prix
Posted onRed Bull were the only team to start from the grid on anything other than the soft tyres but team principal Christian Horner said it was a “conservative” decision.
The six drivers – including two rookies – who aced tricky Monaco strategy call
2023 Monaco Grand Prix
Posted onWhile Aston Martin and Fernando Alonso missed their chance to pull off the ideal strategy in Monaco, six other drivers got the call right.
Why Red Bull believe Perez’s conservative start to race hurt him in Miami
2023 Miami Grand Prix
Posted onMax Verstappen lapped faster in traffic than his team mate did at the front of the field, which hurt Sergio Perez’s hopes of winning in Miami.
Did Red Bull have enough time to cancel pit stop which “hurt” Verstappen’s race?
2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Posted onMax Verstappen wants Red Bull to review the pit stop decision which potentially cost him a win in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Did they slip up?
The single lap when Verstappen revealed some of Red Bull’s true pace in Melbourne
2023 Australian Grand Prix interactive data
Posted onFor a single lap during the Australian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen was 1.1 seconds quicker than every other driver. Was this another glimpse of Red Bull’s real pace?
Red Bull’s staggering superiority and the impact of a doubtful Safety Car call
2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix interactive data
Posted onThe race data from Jeddah shows Red Bull would have scored a one-two even if the Safety Car hadn’t been deployed, thanks to their enormous pace advantage.
2023 Bahrain Grand Prix interactive data: lap charts, times and tyres
2023 Bahrain Grand Prix
Posted onRed Bull were untouchable in the opening race of the 2023 season, not least because they were able to run a more aggressive tyre strategy than their rivals.
2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix interactive data: lap charts, times and tyres
2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Posted onOne-stop strategies paid off for Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, but Sebastian Vettel suspected his cost Aston Martin sixth place in the championship.
2022 Brazilian Grand Prix interactive data: lap charts, times and tyres
2022 Brazilian Grand Prix
Posted onThe Safety Car period towards the end of the Brazilian Grand Prix meant the final result didn’t reflect a striking development: Mercedes’ unexpected turn of speed.
2022 Mexican Grand Prix interactive data: lap charts, times and tyres
2022 Mexican Grand Prix
Posted onRed Bull and Ferrari said Mercedes cost themselves a potential victory for a second race in a row by switching to the hard tyre.
2022 United States Grand Prix interactive data: lap charts, times and tyres
2022 United States Grand Prix
Posted onWhile a two-stop strategy was standard for almost everyone, a single driver took the bold decision to pit once, which paid off.
2022 Japanese Grand Prix interactive data: lap charts, times and tyres
2022 Japanese Grand Prix
Posted onThere was little room for strategic manoeuvring in the shortened Japanese Grand Prix, but a handful of drivers made gains with smart tactics.