GPR-A wrote: ↑14 Aug 2018, 16:14
turbof1 wrote: ↑14 Aug 2018, 16:05
makecry wrote: ↑14 Aug 2018, 14:19
I did.
The numbers are not accurate at all.
The Stoffel's number for 0.195% is not accurate. Alonso out-qualified Vandoorne 16-3 with a median gap of 0.445%.The gap between them was significantly larger in the first half of the season (0.630% vs. 0.195%), while the tallies were similar (8-1 vs. 8-2).
He has pulled the number out of thin air after applying some really weird performance equalizers to his entire equation.
I personally came to a difference of 0.354%. I included every qualifying session they both drove, so Q1 and Q2. I compared Q1 times to Q1 times and Q2 times to Q2 times. If for instance Vandoorne got knocked out in Q1 and Alonso did not, I would not factor in Alonso's Q2 time. Which is fair, conditions can quickly vary between Q sessions and to omit as many variables as possible, only the times they set in roughly the same period should matter.
Note I counted for every such session including the ones where Vandoorne had a readable downforce handicap. If I omit those, it drops to 0.268%
Does it make sense to compare Q1 and Q2? Unless, there are some situations like a driver couldn't move into Q2 or Q3 because of some weird issues. But otherwise, drivers typically leave a tenth or two in Q1 and Q2, just to keep some cards close to their chest, away from their team mate. It's always the Q3 (or Q2 for cars that find it hard to get into Q3) that reveals the ultimate potential of the driver-car combo.
I find it does make sense. McLaren clearly struggles to make it into Q2, so they have little reason to hold that tenth back. Even if you did make that assumption, you have to assume the same offset is made for both. Which I really don't think that is the case; mclaren is not a mercedes or ferrari who can afford to tune down the engine or take it a bit more easy in Q1 and possibly Q2. The reverse can also be said: if an inferior car does manage to get a Q3 spot, chances are they will only do one timed run where they play it save, knowing they normally will only get P10 unless a car crashes out, this to not make unnecessary risks for practically no gain.
Anyway, it's a moot point because only Alonso managed Q3 one or two times. Vandoorne has not, so you don't have comparative data.
If you are interested, I did a quick average on the highest Q session of each race they BOTH reached, which sits at 0.409%. If I again omit the DF compromised times, it drops back down to 0.281%.
The DF offset really show in the times btw. In those 2 races Vandoorne performed a full 1% worse than Alonso. That really bites in on the average.
EDIT: I have to stress Makecry put out the
2017 % difference, so not the 2018!