Throughout this Formula One year, I intend to follow patterns in qualifying time differences within the 13 different teams. If we assume that teams prepare nearly identifical cars for the race (probably a bad assumption), we can compare qualifying times within each team. I suspect that many drivers are as concerned about their standing with respect to their fellow team driver as they are concerned with their standing on the grid.
The table below is for the final qualifying times in Brazil. You will notice that the absolute value of the qualifying times is the same for both drivers on a team, but the sign (+ or -) is different. It either pays to have a lousy teammate or it hurts to have some Senna clone as the other team driver.
| Driver | Team | Nationality | Age | Differential (Sec.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morbidelli, G. | Footwork | Italy | 34 | +3.724 |
| Frentzen, H.-H. | Sauber | Germany | 27 | +2.503 |
| Verstappen, J. | Simtek | Netherlands | 22 | +2.225 |
| Moreno, R. | Forti | Brazil | 34 | +1.909 |
| Irvine, E. | Jordan | Ireland | 29 | +1.716 |
| Panis, O. | Ligier | France | 29 | +1.476 |
| Gachot, B. | Pacific | France | 32 | +.985 |
| Hakkinen, M. | McLaren | Finland | 26 | +.542 |
| Hill, D. | Williams | Britain | 34 | +.503 |
| Schumacher, M. | Benetton | Germany | 26 | +.463 |
| Berger, G. | Ferrari | Austria | 34 | +.195 |
| Katayama, U. | Tyrrell | Japan | 31 | +.128 |
| Martini, P.L. | Minardi | Italy | 33 | +.08 |
| Badoer, L. | Minardi | Italy | 24 | -.08 |
| Salo, M.J. | Tyrrell | Finland | 27 | -.128 |
| Alesi, J. | Ferrari | France | 30 | -.195 |
| Herbert, J. | Benetton | Britain | 30 | -.463 |
| Coulthard, D. | Williams | Britain | 23 | -.503 |
| Blundell, M. | McLaren | Britain | 34 | -.542 |
| Montermini, A. | Pacific | Italy | 30 | -.985 |
| Suzuki, A. | Ligier | Japan | 34 | -1.476 |
| Barrichello, R. | Jordan | Brazil | 22 | -1.716 |
| Diniz, P.P. | Forti | Brazil | 24 | -1.909 |
| Schiattarella, D. | Simtek | Italy | ? | -2.225 |
| Wendlinger, K. | Sauber | Austria | 26 | -2.503 |
| Inoue, T. | Footwork | Japan | 31 | -3.724 |
I will be watching these differentials throughout the year, and I am sure that some interesting patterns will emerge as more races are run.