Which driver had the quickest reaction time?
Max was the quickest off the line, Charles lost almost two tenths before reaching 100kmph.
Formula 1 race start is one of the most thrilling and adrenaline-pumping moments in in all of motorsports. Everyone in the stands and at home watching on TV is on the edge of their seats as drivers gun their engines and fly off the starting line. The drivers must be precise and strategic as they jockey for the best position at the start while avoiding any collisions. Many things can happen in those few seconds, and often it can make or break a driver's chance at winning the race.
The start is so important because it sets up the rest of the race. If a driver gets off to a bad start, they may never be able to recover. Conversely, if they get off to a good start, they can gain an advantage that will be difficult for their opponents to overcome.
There are many factors that go into getting off to a good Formula 1 race start: positioning on track, engine power, grip levels etc... But perhaps the most important factor is timing. Drivers must time their launch perfectly in order to get ahead of their rivals without running into trouble. Race starts are a test of skill and strategy, and the excitement builds until all cars reach maximum speed and fly across the finish line
“Race start procedure can be divided into 3 parts mainly.
Reaction time – the time from when the start lights go out to when the driver reacts by dropping the hand clutch to the mid (semi engaged/semi slipping) position.
Initial acceleration phase – how the driver handle the wheel slip, the throttle position, fully releasing the clutch paddle to full engagement, etc.
How fast are the car and driver in the latter part of the launch – using the slip stream, the overall drag of the car, holding position (making as few changes of direction as possible), etc.”
- Source
During the recent Azerbaijan GP we witnessed Max with a mega start, if the straight line leading to Turn 1 is a bit longer he would have pulled ahead of pole setter Leclerc who had a lockup before Turn 1. Max was the fastest driver off the line reaching 100 kmph within 2.855 seconds of lights out, closely followed by Lando, Lewis and George. Mick starting from the bottom of the field was extra careful to avoid any first lap carnage.
This chart below is a zoomed in version to clearly compare driver’s start reaction and skill. Even though Perez was not the quickest of all, he was fast enough to knick past Leclerc. Leclerc is only about 2 tenths off Verstappen’s pace, which shows how much important getting a good getaway is. Other interesting drivers are Albon in 9th position, Gasly starting P6 struggled a bit compared to front runners.
@DriverByData_ made a tweet thread about the intricate technical details each driver has to adjust and navigate through for optimal race start.
There’s something special about a Fernando Alonso race start. The Spaniard has an uncanny ability to get his car off the line quickly and into contention for the lead, often making up several positions in the opening laps. This is especially impressive given that he’s usually starting from further back on the grid than many of his rivals.
What makes Alonso so good at starts? Part of it is undoubtedly his skill and experience, but another key factor is his car setup. He prefers a slightly more aggressive setup than most drivers, which gives him more grip off the line but can also make it harder to keep control of the car as it accelerates. This combination of skill and bravery makes for an exciting start to any race!
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