Whereas current seasons noticed System One groups pursue the least quantity of pit stops, race methods have nonetheless performed an vital position in lots of races, significantly on tracks the place overtaking is at a premium.
In System 1, race technique is a mix of knowledge evaluation and predictive simulations, crafted to optimize essential components like tyre decisions, pit cease and on-track visitors. Over time, groups have developed cutting-edge software program to analyse enormous swimming pools of knowledge to plot the quickest path to the chequered flag.
Reflecting on the complexity of race methods, Aston Martin‘s Efficiency Director Tom McCullough highlights a few of the key components at play when formulating a plan of assault for any given Grand Prix.
“While you break technique down the goal is comparatively easy: get your automobile from the begin to the top of a race as quick as doable.
“Devising a technique begins with what we name the Monte Carlo simulation – a method to mannequin the likelihood of various outcomes which are troublesome to foretell as a consequence of totally different variables. This simulation is designed to work out the quickest technique, contemplating the tyres obtainable and the traits of the circuit.
“You plug that knowledge into your software program and ask, ‘With out interacting with anybody else, what’s the quickest approach to do that race?’ and it’ll present a solution saying a two-stop technique with stops on lap 12 and lap 32, for instance.
“That is the baseline, however there is a host of different variables you need to take into account when constructing your technique…”
System One has been utilizing Pirelli tyres since 2011 because the Milan-based outfit established itself as the game’s sole tyre producer. Whereas the Italian firm was requested to produce high-degrading tyres within the early 2010s, it has since switched to extra sturdy rubber lately.
“Tyres are essential in F1 and managing them so they supply optimum efficiency all through the race is on the coronary heart of many strategic choices,” continued McCullough.
“We take into account tyre life, tyre degradation, and the distinction in efficiency between the tyre compounds Pirelli supplies – which consists of base efficiency distinction between the compounds and distinction of their charges of degradation.
“If you happen to’ve obtained three tyre compounds which are very comparable in tempo, degradation, and life, it would not actually matter which tyre you utilize; you may are inclined to do as few pitstops as doable if the degradation is low. What typically drives additional pitstops is excessive degradation or low tyre life, so establishing these variables is essential.
“It is vital to additionally perceive the variables that may affect these tyre parameters.
“The three important components that affect how the tyres work at a monitor are: how tough the tarmac is – usually the extra abrasive the tarmac, the extra the tyres degrade; how excessive the air and monitor temperature is – the warmer it’s the extra the tyres undergo; and what number of high-speed corners a monitor has – a circuit with plenty of high-speed corners will see increased degradation since you’re placing extra stress into the tyre.
“If a circuit has not too long ago been resurfaced, that drastically influences ranges of abrasion, monitor temperature, and grip ranges in high-speed corners, in addition to the distinction in efficiency, tyre life, and degradation between every compound.
“Understanding what the tyres will do is among the most vital inputs into a technique mannequin. It may be the distinction between choosing the right or the flawed technique.”
Concerning the structure of the pit lane, McCullough added: “Pitstop time loss is vital to contemplate since you’re looking for the best steadiness between dropping time within the pits versus staying out on monitor with tyres which are giving up efficiency.
“Moreover, after we determine to pit Lance or Fernando, we ideally need them to rejoin the race in free air following a cease so we use the pitstop time loss to calculate the place they’d be relative to the remainder of the sphere as they exit the pitlane.
“Time misplaced throughout a pitstop varies between roughly 20 and 30 seconds relying on the circuit. For instance, Spa has one of many lowest pit losses as a result of the pitlane is definitely shorter than the monitor alongside it, and it runs contained in the low-speed La Supply hairpin.
“Nevertheless, at a circuit like Monza the place the automobiles go previous the pitlane on the monitor at one of many highest speeds on the calendar, the pitstop time loss tends to be fairly excessive.”
Whereas groups often concentrate on tyre efficiency throughout the second free apply session on an ordinary weekend, the wealth of knowledge and the extreme evaluation could be thrown out of the window if rain makes an look throughout the race.
“Climate has a big impact on technique. In dry climate, tyre degradation and the laptime efficiency between the compounds varies dramatically in relation to adjustments in air and monitor temperature.
“The rules state that you need to use no less than two totally different compounds in dry situations, which suggests you may at all times have no less than a one-stop race. Nevertheless, that rule would not apply when it rains.
“Within the moist, being on the best tyres on the proper time is the important thing phrase. Getting the change proper between dry and moist tyres in changeable situations could make or break a race. You are counting on suggestions from the driving force within the cockpit, laptime knowledge if a competitor has already made the change, and the climate radar, to make that decision.
“As well as, rain will increase the prospect of accidents on monitor, so it is advisable be alive to that and issue within the increased likelihood of Security Automobiles.”
“We examine historic Security Automobiles and Digital Security Automobiles (VSC) and their timing at every race. They have an inclination to occur both initially of a Grand Prix or round pitstops when automobiles are usually making an attempt to cross one another.
“After all, typically you’ve gotten random Security Automotive intervals as a result of automobiles can break down or a driver could make a mistake and have an accident, so you’ve got at all times obtained to be able to react.
“When a Security Automotive comes out, or a VSC occurs, the pack goes a lot slower on monitor than normal racing speeds and due to this fact the pitstop time loss is considerably decreased; if you are able to do a pitstop in these home windows you may acquire a whole lot of time.
“One of many causes we regularly see automobiles ready for a possible Security Automotive is as a result of, in an uninterrupted race, they could be unlikely to get an excellent consequence however making the most of a fortuitously timed Security Automotive can change all that.
“There’s a component of the unknown with Security Automobiles as a result of something can occur in F1, however we all know traditionally at which circuits they’re extra prone to seem and due to this fact issue that into our technique accordingly.”
With the F1 schedule comprising 24 rounds, there are huge variations between the tracks. With a few of them hardly providing any overtaking alternatives, there are just a few others that characteristic just a few overtaking spots, It implies that groups additionally must take the monitor structure into consideration when determining one of the best technique for a sure race.
“At most circuits, it is advisable be a second a lap sooner, even with DRS, to overhaul, which is what we name the overtaking threshold. That distinction in tempo can come from merely having a sooner automobile or by being on a special technique with more energizing tyres than your competitor, and also you attempt to calculate how one can set up that threshold within the race.
“With overtaking likelihood, we rank all 24 circuits on the significance of Qualifying and the significance of racing. At one finish of the size is Monaco, the place Qualifying is an important as a result of there’s little overtaking, and on the different finish of the size Bahrain is the least vital for Qualifying as a result of it is simpler to overhaul and there is excessive tyre degradation. Overtaking likelihood can even inform automobile setup and whether or not you need a faster automobile for Saturday or Sunday.
“The dominant issue for overtaking is the degradation of the tyres. If the tyres hardly drop off when it comes to efficiency, it is arduous to generate a enough tempo distinction to overhaul. Nevertheless, if any person matches new tyres earlier than you which of them degrade fairly rapidly you may create an offset to that by pitting later. You will then have more energizing tyres than your competitor and due to this fact extra tempo to overhaul.”
Whereas groups often declare that they solely concentrate on themselves, McCullough reckons that engineers typically calculate their rivals’ velocity to foretell the order and visitors situations that may closely affect methods.
“To determine this, we have a look at the previous couple of races and the long term knowledge from Free Apply and we use a statistical mannequin that predicts the tempo of our opponents’ automobiles, based mostly on components resembling kind of circuit and a automobile’s strengths and weaknesses.
“We frequently have an excellent prediction of the place we predict individuals are going to be earlier than the weekend, although any person might need an replace that will shock.
“We issue that knowledge in and that enables us to construct a tempo mannequin, which we are able to then apply to our personal technique and the way we’d work together with every competitor’s automobile.”
Methods are additionally influenced by on-track visitors. Groups would possibly deliver drivers in earlier or later than their opponents to safe a aggressive benefit.
The undercut transfer means making a pit cease earlier and setting sooner lap instances on contemporary tires. By doing so, the driving force can doubtlessly acquire sufficient time to be forward of the adversary when the latter makes their pit cease. The overcut, however, includes staying out on monitor longer and pushing arduous on worn tires. If the driving force can keep a robust tempo, it’s doable to leapfrog opponents as soon as they make their pit cease.
“The undercut is extra widespread however the overcut could be fruitful in sure circumstances. Understanding the most suitable choice round pitstops comes all the way down to the tyre efficiency and the problem to overhaul.
“Usually, in what we name a ‘track-position race’ the place overtaking is more durable, the undercut is the most suitable choice since you get contemporary tyres sooner than your competitor and you may soar forward of them as soon as they’ve stopped.
“Nevertheless, if a whole lot of drivers get into ‘track-position racing’ and are managing their tyres however you might be in free air, that may generate the overcut. Free air permits your automobile to have most downforce and the driving force can take care of the tyres extra.
“The tyre degradation and efficiency of those current-era F1 automobiles is drastically influenced by the quantity of visitors interplay you’ve gotten and, in the event you’re in visitors, you lose a whole lot of downforce and also you’re more durable on the tyres. In case you have some free air you may typically go longer in a stint and pull off an overcut,” concluded McCullough.
