Possible? Yes. But the data doesn't support it. Max's advantage is in the corners and particularly rotating the car. This allows him to essentially "V" the corner, so he goes in straight lines for a longer period of time (both under breaking and accelerating. He's not even a particularly late braker, which is why he makes so few mistakes. If he does make a mistake under braking he has a build in margin of error, vs those that are the last of the late brakers, if they make an error under braking or grip level has changed, they go straight on. It's the same for his usage of the track, he uses less of the track than Perez (and most other drivers) yet yeilds faster times...so when he really has to push is he still has lap time there left
Not to mention, Perez is still in the mindset of preserving his tires, so he can go longer than Max on whatever compound. I'm like, "Dude, you gotta rocketship....go faster and build a gap and let Hannah Schmitz take care of when to pit!"
Max is a faster and more reliable driver. Nothing to add or extrapolate hypothetical plots behind the walls..
I guess more v to the corner implies a looser rear end to assist car in pointing. I remember vettle hated that. Is there a comparison of vettle at his peak 4x wdc in redbull and max now with 3 wdc in a redbull?
I believe Max's advantage comes from having an unmatched ability to handle a very very pointy car. Alex Albon specifically mentioned this in a somewhat recent interview. Prior to this Max constantly asked for more and more front grip. He has said that an understeering car cannot be fast. It's mind boggling to think he can control a car with a rear end that is on a knife edge of being out of control and do it so effortlessly. The car looks completely planted for him. Meanwhile his teammates struggle. I assume Perez and the other previous teammates are forced to setup the car for more rear end stability. We've seen it before where Max will take a low downforce rear wing, and Perez gets a higher downforce rear wing. I remember with Schumacher, they said he liked a very very reactive car. Often the car was setup extremely stiff so the car would react lightning quick. Drivers like Michael and Max are able to make micro corrections so quickly that it makes the car look completely planted to the viewer.
Senna liked his car with more front end rather than most drivers whom like it more rear-ward. Interesting.
And look how fast he was. It would seem to be trait among the super elites. I'm not sure Alonso wanted a car quite like these greats did, but remember in 2005 how he had that extremely unusual driving style to induce understeer in slow speed corners. So perhaps he does. I tend to think Alonso might be the greatest driver at adapting which was probably his biggest strength.
I don't think that's a skill trait of only the super elites. Too many different strenghts/ styles. Steering, braking technique, smoothness, many techniques are used to go quickly. And many champions became champions by using different strenghts. Max has his strenghts. But its not the only strenght in a racers toolbox.
Many champions are champions simply because of the car and not because they are better than all the drivers. The super elites are those that can drive in a way that other drivers cannot. Max, Schumacher, Senna, Alonso have all proved to do this, and when they get the best car, they dominate. I completely agree there are many traits and techniques a driver can excel at to be good or even great. Ricciardo known as the last of the late brakers. Beat Vettel, won some races, earned a huge contract. How's he doing now? Jenson Button was exceptionally smooth, was a key to some brilliant victories like in Canada 2011. His own words said his style could not fire up tires and he did not know how to find performance against Barrichello which threatened his championship in 2009. In all the enduro racing he does, he typically is one of the slower drivers on his team. There are many many cases of great drivers, or seemingly great drivers finding all kind of success with a great car, and while they are still great, their teammates are able to have great results as well. I'm saying the super elites somehow have a way to drive a car to the limit that nearly no other driver can. Whether this is a car with a supremely sharp front end, or hyper reactive, or massive rear traction, or amazing but super sensitive brakes. Except there is proof that a cars with incredible front grip are faster, if the driver can tame it.
Interesting numbers, but the number of races were not always equal. I guess you could take each season, and say 18 out of 24 (current season) or 75% of the races in the current season, and simply increase the lower winners by that amount for each year (not all years will have the number of races). If its on an equal basis, you will see the other drivers come up the ranks.
The one word missing from all this = Adaptability. FA and Max appear to have it. Kimi utterly lacked it. I see LH in between overall. A rare talent that takes a car less than optimal to superb results - FA at Ferrari as an example.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/p-rez-downplays-speculation-red-043731355.html Looking forward and hoping Sir Max staying with RB till 2028.
He's also brought his controller to Australia so can continue to do iracing...he was on last night again at stupid hours.
I hope the late night racing doesn’t catch up to him. When I his age staying out chasing girls was tough going to work the next day
He said he sticks to a Euro timezone sleep pattern. So while he may be awake racing in other countries at 4 am locally, it's his normal time. I'm sure there is some adjustments needed here and there, but so far it hasn't shown to be an issue.
Yea I saw he said that before. I go to bed before 10pm. He’s playing games takes a nap and then wins GP’s.
Pretty incredible really but it seems to work for him. Given how every other driver makes a big deal about getting into the right sleeping schedule...
