Formula 1 analysis shows that pole is still a long way off for Verstappen

Max Verstappen set the fastest time during the second free practice session on Friday but said afterwards that it will be difficult to get pole position on Saturday. Formula1.com calculated the differences based on the delta of the potentially fastest lap per team and had to agree with Verstappen.

Red Bull Racing and Mercedes are matched in the slow and fast corners, but the time gained by Mercedes in the medium-fast corners means Verstappen can't keep up. The RB16 runs a little harder on the straight because of the setup chosen, but Mercedes is fully committed to sector two and that seems to pay off with an eight-tenths lead at the end of the lap.

Choosing between top speed or a fast lap

Renault, on the other hand, opts for an opposite strategy. They drive with as little downward pressure as possible, making their top speed the highest of anyone. Ferrari tries the same, but unlike the Scuderia, Renault loses relatively little time in the corners. The team is doing even better than Racing Point, who also chose this strategy.

The lack of power at Ferrari also becomes painfully clear in this analysis. The Ferrari-powered teams have to sacrifice so much downward pressure to get on the straights, that they lose extremely much time in the slow and medium corners. Alfa Romeo knows the best way to disguise this.