We are now at the half-way mark of the 1996 Formula One season. Since we are at that point, it seems appropriate to remind people what SuperGrid and SuperRace are about, and how the figures are derived.
Both SuperGrid and SuperRace are an attempt to "smooth" a driver's performance over the length of the entire season. In order to do this, the tables are compiled from all events to date in the season. Based on the tables that used to be presented by John Taylor in Autocourse each year, they are primarily intended for my personal consumption, but are presented here for amusement (see NOTES below).
For those who wish to play around with the data, I make every attempt to ensure that each column is 3 spaces from its predecessor. In some cases this may not seem obvious, but I also try to make allowance for column headers (ie. Team in the SuperGrid) and for "growth" of the figures later in the season (ie. Total Time in the SuperGrid).
In the SuperGrid, it is usual that three sets of figures are shown for each driver. The first figure simply shows the total time for that driver - all his grid times are added - based on the official grid times. Due to my lack of desire to want to spend inordinate amounts of time working out a formula, the times are in seconds.
The second SuperGrid figure is the average of the preceding figure, for the events in which the driver has participated. Therefore, a driver who has taken part in only one event and there got a grid time of 1 minute 30 seconds will be shown as having an average time of 1 minute 30 seconds. A driver with grid times of 1:25, 1:28, 1:30 and 1:32, will have an average grid time of 1:28.75.
Two points here. First, I go by the official grid times. That means that if a driver "gets" a time of 10 minutes, but is still permitted to race, then 10 minutes is the figure included in the SuperGrid.
Second, in order to ensure some form of season-long equity (and also a rule established by the originator of the SuperGrid, John Taylor), a driver must participate in all events in the season in order to "make" the end of season SuperGrid. Drivers who have not participated in all events are marked with an aster (*), and are shown in a separate table.
Usually the third figure given is the average of the driver's grid positions. Where a driver fails to qualify for a race, a grid position has been assumed on the basis of his time. This figure is fourth set of figures given in the table below.
The third set of figures in this SuperGrid show each driver's average percentage off-pole. For example, if Hill (or any other driver) had been on pole for every race thus far, he would be 0.000% off pole.
While there are very few changes from the SuperGrid following Spain (Salo and Verstappen have swapped positions), Hill has pulled away from Schumacher, who is being caught by Villeneuve.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the grid, Montermini may just scrape onto the end-of-season SuperGrid. He has managed to creep closer to the 107% time.
This Super Grid is sorted on Total Time.
DRIVER TEAM TOTAL AVG. % OFF AVG.
TIME TIME POLE POS.
Hill WIL 669.587 1:23.698 0.164 1.38
Schumacher FER 673.557 1:24.195 0.776 2.63
Villeneuve WIL 673.599 1:24.200 0.787 3.25
Alesi BEN 678.007 1:24.751 1.426 4.38
Irvine FER 679.566 1:24.946 1.679 6.75
Berger BEN 679.876 1:24.985 1.709 6.38
Barrichello JOR 680.285 1:25.036 1.760 6.38
Hakkinen MCL 682.184 1:25.273 2.055 8.00
Coulthard MCL 683.303 1:25.413 2.217 9.38
Frentzen SAU 684.320 1:25.540 2.376 10.13
Salo TYR 686.193 1:25.774 2.653 12.00
Panis LIG 686.438 1:25.805 2.684 12.38
Verstappen FOO 686.781 1:25.848 2.744 12.13
Brundle JOR 687.055 1:25.882 2.751 12.88
Herbert SAU 688.178 1:26.022 2.930 13.38
Katayama TYR 690.733 1:26.342 3.335 15.50
Diniz LIG 694.426 1:26.803 3.883 17.75
Lamy MIN 697.823 1:27.228 4.408 18.63
Rosset FOO 701.116 1:27.640 4.903 19.50
Badoer FOR 711.769 1:28.971 6.490 21.00
---107% of pole--- 716.458 1:29.557
Montermini FOR 718.790 1:29.849 7.489 21.88
Marques MIN * 173.923 1:26.962 3.312 16.50
Fisichella MIN * 521.367 1:26.895 4.275 17.67
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The figures presented in the SuperRace vary from race to race. This is mainly due to trying to maintain a balance between receiving accurate data quickly (I require two sources for each piece of data), and presenting the information as soon as possible after a race. So, for example, this SuperRace makes no mention of fastest laps.
The SuperRace table also usually has three sets of figures. The first figure shows the average position attained by that driver this season. Where a driver is classified as "DNF" a sequential, consecutive position is allocated. Note that in the FIA classifications, where a driver with a low car number stops on the same lap as a driver with a high car number, the driver with the lower car number is classified with a "higher" finishing position.
Usually, as stated above, there is a time showing the average of the driver's best lap time in each race.
Proving the point that plodding, as opposed to racing, around the circuit can sometimes have benefits, the SuperRace shows the total laps completed by each driver, along with the total laps to date in the season (in this case, 540). For interest, a "perfect" driver - who completes every lap of every race - will complete 1,015 laps and a total race distance of 4,851.59 kilometres in 1996.
Somewhat redundant (since the number-crunchers can work it out for themselves if they really want to), is the percentage of the total laps to date that the driver has completed.
From time to time, as in this SuperGrid, the total number of laps led by each driver is included.
As with the SuperGrid, drivers who have not taken part in every race are marked with an aster (*), but - unlike the SuperGrid - are included in the SuperRace as missing a race seems to be penalty enough in itself.
Hill and Villeneuve retain their positions at the top of the SuperRace, while Alesi has gone past Schumacher and Hakkinen. Further down the table, there are quite a few changes. Montermini and, hardly surprisingly, Marques maintain their positions at the end of the field.
DRIVER TEAM AVG. LAPS %AGE LAPS
POS. 540 LAPS LED
1. Hill WIL 4.13 450 83.333 290
2. Villeneuve WIL 5.75 480 88.889 136
3. Alesi BEN 7.63 413 76.481 24
4. Schumacher FER 7.75 384 71.111 55
5. Hakkinen MCL 7.88 477 88.333
6. Berger BEN 9.75 365 67.593
7. Coulthard MCL 9.88 380 70.370 19
8. Panis LIG 9.88 374 69.259 16
9. Irvine FER 10.00 339 62.778
10. Herbert SAU * 10.29 354 65.556
11. Barrichello JOR 10.50 357 66.111
12. Diniz LIG 11.00 388 71.852
13. Salo TYR 12.00 311 57.593
14. Frentzen SAU 12.13 373 69.074
15. Brundle JOR 12.25 317 58.704
16. Badoer FOR * 12.40 254 47.037
17. Lamy MIN 13.13 319 59.074
18. Verstappen FOO 15.00 239 44.259
19. Fisichella MIN * 15.33 195 36.111
20. Katayama TYR 15.38 213 39.444
21. Rosset FOO 16.13 218 40.370
22. Montermini FOR * 17.00 117 21.667
23. Marques MIN * 19.00 33 6.111
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For the first time this season, I am presenting some data on team performance. These data must be taken with a grain of salt. The "methodology" used is to average the average of the team's drivers. This imposes a certain "flexibility" on the results. Personally, I find these data to be of cursory use.
The end-of-season SuperGrid and SuperRace tables present a wide variety of data for drivers and teams. Since it takes quite some time to prepare this data for presentation, team data is presented only occasionally.
The data is presented here in car number order, as it contains both grid and race results. The first two set of figures refer to the grid, while the third set of figures refer to the race.
TEAM AVG. AVG. AVG.
TIME POS. POS.
Ferrari 1:24.570 4.69 8.88
Benetton 1:24.868 5.38 8.69
Williams 1:23.949 2.31 4.94
McLaren 1:25.343 8.69 8.88
Ligier 1:26.304 15.06 10.44
Jordan 1:25.459 9.63 11.38
Sauber 1:25.781 11.75 11.21
Footwork 1:26.744 15.81 15.56
Tyrrell 1:26.058 13.75 13.69
Minardi 1:27.028 17.60 15.82
Forti 1:29.410 21.44 14.70
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The raw data are copyright FIA/FOCA. These compilations/tables are copyright Rory Gordon.
These tables may only be used for personal, private use. Any other use - including the posting to other "on-line services" and other reproduction in any manner, mean or form - requires the compiler's permission prior to such use.
The compiler accepts that there may be errors in the tables, and thus warns that he will not be held responsible in any way for any of those errors and/or any troubles they may cause.
The compiler is happy to consider any possible amendments.
Sources include:
Autosport - Britain
Australian Auto Action - Australia
Motorsport News - Australia
Motor Sports Forum - Compuserve
Gale Force - Internet
Motorsport News International - Internet
Various F1 Team sites - Internet