Kovalinen v Piquet at Race Starts (Interesting Analysis)

[lucky777]

Two drivers who have had their fair share of criticism recently are poles apart this season in one aspect of their driving. RACE STARTS.
http://www.pitlanefanatic.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&a...
Piquet has gained 13 places from starts this year. Kov has retired twice and lost 6 places in the other start.

Heres a good article which compares all the drivers starts this year, which I found to be interesting reading.

Edited by lucky777 on Tuesday 28th April 14:21

[elster]

I can't really see the relevance unless they manage to keep their positions.

Going on just race starts, Fissi and Piquet are the best F1 drivers

[lucky777]

"So is Piquet a better driver than Heikki ? I think so!"

Forgive me, that was just a tongue in cheek comment... I'm not sure ho's the best driver... but interesting to see the contrast in fortunes in the Starts of races this year, all the same.

[Get Karter]

So the guy on pole must be the worst driver....no one to overtake.

Edited by Get Karter on Tuesday 28th April 14:00

[AlpineWhite]

By the same logic*, Piquet is a better driver than Vettel.

In reality, that analysis is meaningless. What does it tell you? That particular drivers are good qualifiers but poor racers, poor qualifiers but good racers, good at both, bad at both?
No, it tells you none of those things.

• I use the word 'logic', but.....

[TonyHetherington]

But haven't Renaults for a long time been naturally good at race starts?

Plus, when you're starting further down the grid there's more people to overtake!

This year Button's obviously had "rubbish" race starts - he's overtaken far fewer people.

[elster]

It would need a it better mathematics to actually work out a formula.

Perhaps you would need to include qualifying position, start gain and final position. Possibly you would also need to include the pit times as well.1

[FNG]

Can't really infer that he's better at race starts, either. Considering a lot of the places he made up were due to people diving into the pits for new noses, or being punted off track at the first corner, his main claim to fame has been managing to avoid trouble ahead of him, and being further back on the grid than he ought to be.

If a driver is passed on the first lap a few times I'd say that infers he's qualifying higher than he ought.

If he's passing people all over the place that infers he needs to look to his qualifying technique.

But nothing in those stats really lays claim to a great driver or even a great overtaker any more than it suggests a crap qualifier, does it?

Edited by FNG on Tuesday 28th April 20:32

[AlexS]

TonyHetherington said:

But haven't Renaults for a long time been naturally good at race starts?

Plus, when you're starting further down the grid there's more people to overtake!

This year Button's obviously had "rubbish" race starts - he's overtaken far fewer people.

Piquet is starting down the grid in a Kers equipped car which is going to help.

[BBS-LM]

The 2 drivers have both had a chance to prove there performance on race day and I know my patience are up, it's time to go and give other driver a chance.

[Mr_Thyroid]

Am I right in thinking that both drivers finished as runner up in GP2?

Has a driver that finished runner up in GP2/F3000 ever been world champ/won a race?

[Jasandjules]

Surely the only position which matters is where they finish?

(of course, discounting the races where they are taken off due to other driver's errors)

[flemke]

Mr_Thyroid said:

Am I right in thinking that both drivers finished as runner up in GP2?

Has a driver that finished runner up in GP2/F3000 ever been world champ/won a race?

Kovalainen won an F1 race last year.

[Jungles]

Mr_Thyroid said:

Am I right in thinking that both drivers finished as runner up in GP2?

Has a driver that finished runner up in GP2/F3000 ever been world champ/won a race?

Looking at it the other way, the only F3000/GP2 champion to ever become WDC has been Lewis Hamilton.

Almost all F3000/GP2 champions have been lacklustre thus far.