Would Hamilton have won without the VSC? I think Barcelona…
0 reactions
Would Hamilton have won without the VSC?
I think Barcelona have been the optimum strategic race on the calendar for now. It really put the teams at their test to execute strategies as well as tyre deg. Ferrari and Hamilton were able to play a great game of cat and mouse with Mercedes.
In the first pit cycle Hamilton gained 2.8 seconds, but could not catch and overtake Russell. In the second pit cycle, Hamilton made the difference on mediums, gaining 19.7 seconds on Russel. At the end a VSC neutralized the race, handing the win to Hamilton. I was left with the question, could Hamilton have won without the VSC?
So I ran an estimated guess without the VSC and three pit scenarios. Lap 43, 46 or 49.
My estimated guess highly suggests this was a pure strategy win and not luck. However if Ferrari have waited until lap 49 they might be so far behind that the later VSC would have hindered an overtake and given Russel the win.
Graphs and analysis is already on laptime https://laptime.me/hamilton-barcelona-2026/
What are your takes on the influence of the VSC?
#cars
source
I think Barcelona have been the optimum strategic race on the calendar for now. It really put the teams at their test to execute strategies as well as tyre deg. Ferrari and Hamilton were able to play a great game of cat and mouse with Mercedes.
In the first pit cycle Hamilton gained 2.8 seconds, but could not catch and overtake Russell. In the second pit cycle, Hamilton made the difference on mediums, gaining 19.7 seconds on Russel. At the end a VSC neutralized the race, handing the win to Hamilton. I was left with the question, could Hamilton have won without the VSC?
So I ran an estimated guess without the VSC and three pit scenarios. Lap 43, 46 or 49.
My estimated guess highly suggests this was a pure strategy win and not luck. However if Ferrari have waited until lap 49 they might be so far behind that the later VSC would have hindered an overtake and given Russel the win.
Graphs and analysis is already on laptime https://laptime.me/hamilton-barcelona-2026/
What are your takes on the influence of the VSC?
#cars
source
| 3,000 mlx | |
| 4 | |
| 0 |