Again, I apologize to all differential fans for not getting the information up - at all - in the recent issues of Atlas F1. This will probably be the last issue of Qualifying Differentials until the season is over. And, as always, skip the next paragraph if you are a regular visitor.

As mentioned in the first edition of Atlas F1 Qualifying Differentials, we are going to keep an eye on the battle between teammates throughout the season by race and overall averages. The measurement is simple. We compare the intra-team difference in seconds on Saturday. Some may say compensation must be given in the favoritism between the number one and two seats within the team. We, on the other hand, do not grant that pardon. For better or worse, our analyses will be on the perfect world of egalitarian status in intra-team rivalry.

So, here we go once more. With three more Grands Prix left in the season, the averages have been calculated through Austria. Let's see which drivers deserve bragging rights.

Notables

1. Herbert. Johnny's average has dropped 0.187 seconds since the British Grand Prix. However, he still remains top of the active driver differential averages. OK, so Panis is back at the Nurburgring and will probably destroy Nakano, but it's improbable that Olivier would have retained his 1.646 second average over Mr. Mugen's daughter's boyfriend. It would be safe to say Olivier, if he had not experienced his accident in Canada, would still be leading... and possibly by over one second. Nevertheless, Johnny deserves all the credit in the world. He has consistently beaten all of the drivers Sauber has put next to him. And, he is the only driver to remain unbeaten on Saturday with a record of 14 - 0.

   How does Sauber repay Johnny with his domination of 1997? By giving his number one status in the team to Jean Alesi. Jean, eighth in Atlas F1 Qualifying Differentials Averages (0.275), has done little to impress this year. Only after he was humiliated by being beaten twice out of three races against rookie Alexander Wurz did he begin to perform against 38 year old Berger upon his return from sinus operation recovery. And, if it weren't for Berger's problems in Belgium where, due to a crash, Alesi obtained a 2.632 second advantage, Gerhard would have 0.034 second advantage over Alesi. OK, so we may be arguing thousandths of a second here, but those of you who have been following differentials all year know that Alesi has been suspect. I can replace easily replace "suspect" with a much harsher word (if fact, I have several times before you've read this), but his record does remain on the winning side with 8 win and 6 losses on Saturdays. Regardless, my heart goes out to Sauber fans whom have probably enjoyed Herbet's success after being granted a number one seat. The benefits of Herbert's consistency this year with be replaced with one of the most inconsistent drivers in the Formula One lineup. Completely and utterly lame.

   Oh, and while I still remain on the "lame" soapbox, my heart also goes out to Prost fans who must endure the sight of Nakano instead of Trulli in the last three races of 1998. Why? Well, how's this for the argument: "my girlfriend's daddy will take his engines away if you don't let me drive." One wonders how Eddie Jordan will put up with Mugen next year.

2. Schumacher. Before Damon Hill and Rubens Barrichello fans ask me why I have listed Michael and not their drivers, I would just like to say that Schumacher has steadily climbed upward where Barrichello and Hill have fallen in Atlas F1 Qualifying Differentials since Britain. Furthermore, Michael's standard deviation for differentials (0.423) is the lowest in Formula One except for his brother Ralf's and Giancarlo Fisichella's standard deviation of 0.4 (these two have been quite close, and back and forth, all year). And, except for the recent burp in Austria where Eddie Irvine outqualified Michael by 0.005 seconds, the German has had a perfect Saturday record. It must be said, however, that Barrichello shares the 13 - 1 distinction and Hill's record stands at 12 - 2.¹

¹ Thanks to Mazen Baradhy and Jari Hartikainen for correcting the error with regards to Hill's qualifying record.

Also, thanks to Ilari Lehti for the discrepancy on the graph regarding Herbert and Fontana. The correct differential is 1.278. However, Herbert's overall average of 0.823 as dislpayed on the graph is correct.

Send comments to: kaizar@atlasf1.com