Why great F1 drivers thrive in dirty air by Peter Windsor 

Peter Windsor raises analysis to a new level. Every week he mentions something deeply interesting. Whether history, engineering matters (Scarbs), or driving techniques from his vast store of personal experiences, presented rationally without a lot of bell and whistle graphics or noise. I really appreciate this!!

Lol. I suspect flying a space craft is somewhat easier. Dave Scott, who drove the first moon rover, used to love watching F1 drivers at work around Long Beach. He said to me once that flying to the moon was nothing compared with what the top drivers were doing through Turns 1 and 2...

Hamilton very deliberately drives unconventional lines when following, to get as clean air as possible

After listening to Peter break down driver techniques Im starting to think flying a space ship would be much easier. The things these drivers can do at the speed they are going is amazing.

Charles going through the field in the first Austrian GP this season really shows him hunting for the clean air or making the most of the dirty air through every corner. It's a great example of this I'd say. But I could be wrong :)

I think those 3 have one biggest craft: able to adjust. Everytime situations changes those 3 shine. That’s also the reason why they have sometimes big gaps compared to their teammates. So if the car is fine in the conditions they are close, but if the track or circumstances don’t suits the car the difference are big in time. This is also their benefits for next year I think: adjusting to the new car, change their driving technique in a few laps.

This is so true, you always see Lewis be able to go through the pack bc he can follow but never valterri, same with Max and his teammates, Charles we have seen compared to teammates, it’s so noticeable, constantly see those best three capable of getting past cars even though every other driver says they can’t pass bc of these “cars”

I'd really like to hear you go through all the big name drivers on the grid and discuss which boxes you don't think they tick. Eg. which boxes do Alonso, Vettel, Ricciardo, Russell, Sainz, Norris, Bottas and Pérez *not* tick?

Mr. Windsor, I’ve known your voice since childhood watching F1 with my father in the Speedvision days on early Sunday mornings here in the US. I’m happy I found your channel and so nice to hear your commentary once again…..thank you

Love this Pete - can't get this kind of insight anywhere else. Uniquely great content - Alex

Fernando was awesome to watch how he defended the position.

I love your driving analysis. I believe you are 100% correct. Way back in the last century I was driving tire tests in an Indy car. In clean air I was fast. When Foyt dirtied the air, I backed off. I couldn't feel the car. Foyt explained how you have to modify the cornering line ....... and hope you regain traction..... maybe for him....no thanks

I hope you are right. And I also hope that the said drivers Lewis, Charles and Max would be talented enough to find yet another driving approach to use as advantage over other drivers next season under new regulations.

Peter this is amazing. I would love to see what you explained here in a visual form, comparing the lines of Lewis, Max, Sainz, etc. short corners, geometrical apex etc. Great explanation 🙌🙌🙌

I just wanna watch an F1 race with Pete and get his commentary during a race. Also I thought the race was great having Nico as a commentator.

You are like a F1 Gandalf... So much wisdom and insight...

First time I’ve heard that of Lewis. Over the years it’s been assumed / said he just has the better and faster car. So followed better. Interesting stuff Pete.

It took lewis 10 laps (I think?) to overtake Alonso on much fresher and softer tires and a car that is muc faster. Vettel was never gonna make that pass unless Ocon would have made a mistake.

Go on Windsor Bang on sir!! enjoyed your analysis and insight - I started watching F1 in the 70s as a kid so I know what you mean about nullified skills - those cars were beasts on small chains!

The great drivers will simply learn once again (like Lewis and others) from the newer setup and continue to thrive better. I believe that's all there is to it. It all depends on their hard work and 'drive' to become better. To know for sure we will have to wait until next year.

I think the ability to turn in more during the understeer moments in dirty air also relates to their ability to tire save. Because if those drivers didnt tire save to the extreme they can do while being quick, they wouldnt have the front tire grip to turn in to give them that extra passing ability. In regards to watering down some talent, i think these new regulations will show how good rear instable cars can be manipulated. Currently, dirty air tremendously affects the front grip levels while the rear isnt as effected. With the new cars having so much front wing, the tunnels and thus the rear downforce will be more affected by dirty air. this will bring us back to pre 2016 levels ish of sliding around and seeing oversteer on turn in, rather than understeering with the current cars.

After you mentioning the last corner at Hungary last weekend it was really noticeable how Lewis in particular is able to turn in so much earlier (minimising the corner length) but yet still making the corner! Didn’t get to see much of max or Charles of course.

A great video, agree with the main points but to be fair Lewis had much fresher, and softer tyres than more example Fernando - once he finally passed him he was lapping 2.5 seconds faster than Fernando. So... yeah - if you are lapping 2.5 seconds faster than the other guy its little wonder you are able to crowd behind him, as compared to Vettel who is actually in a car that is overall either equal or even slower than the Alpine, so little wonder that he wasn't able to apply similar pressure. Monza 2020 is a much better example of Hamilton's overtaking talent compared to for example Bottas imo, as both of them fell behind in that race, lewis was able to recover and work his way through the field, Bottas just stayed lost and couldn't do much to advance forward

Top tier drivers will quickly learn to exploit the new aero feel. Any team that doesn’t run practice/testing laps behind a lead car is being negligent. How accurately will the sims correctly model actual car behavior of the following car, and possibly the lead car?

It's a pity for the crash at Silverstone, before it Hamilton had been making beautiful alternate lines to get non-DRS attempts at overtaking Max. He has managed to complete these non DRS overtakes quite a few times lately.

Peter your detailed analysis of driving is fascinating and so helpful for engaging with the sport. Thank you!

Excellent analysis due to expertise, experience, a historical perspective, and a complete, comprehensive knowledge of all facets of an F1 car, and also of all the styles, habits, and subtle differences of the way various drivers manipulate their cars. I learn more about all aspects of F1 racing from a 10 minute video of yours than I do from 2 or even 3 commentators during a complete F1 race. Why you don't have your own 1/2 hour or even 1 hour F1 Analysis program, pre or post race or any other time, is beyond me and defies logic! Keep up the great work, Peter! As far as I'm concerned you are The F1 Guru! Thank you.

Another very thought provoking vlog! I think PW has a great point about being able to follow closely in dirty air, but might add that I also think that the three he mentions are using both the 'set up' for the corner but are also able to use the rear to rotate the car 'just enough' to contribute to placing the car in the right direction / position. Another illuminating and thought worthy vlog. My thanks.

The usual perfect mix of depth, detail, and analysis punctuated with firsthand examples from a long history of close observation and consideration. Superlative, Sir! Thanks.

I can't wait play this tomorrow on the way to work, love listening to your vids in the car. 👍

For comment: Max has the sixth sence of grip on the track peter windsor Thank you for your nice explanation always My thanks💪

Thank you Mr. Windsor! I enjoy your videos so much!!! Your knowledge and your didactic ability are fascinating to me. I think drivers and strategists shoul watch your videos too. Two thumbs up!

What I look for your videos is the fact that you're very precise on your understanding of how a driver works and should work (the word "working" being "driving", of course). Even if you are modest on your knowledge. But I can tell you, as an engineer, your input is amazing. Thanks a lot, Peter. And don't forget to do some more livestreams !!!

One of the most interesting topics I have seen on RU-vid recently 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Lewis was on a totally offset tire strategy. Seb and Ocon were on the same tires at the same times. That's a completely different thing. Hamilton on the same tire with the same number of laps on them could not even properly challenge the Haas. He also had a pretty hard time with Alonso who was on really shot tires. This was not so much about driver excellence, but rather about tire age and strategy. Understeer anticipation is just a part of it.

Really love hearing about driving styles, car control and how racing is more than just finding “ the optimum line “ for a given corner . It is responding and adapting lines based on many factors. I like hearing comparisons as well . I wonder for example how Schumacher, hakkinen, senna etc stack up compared to these three modern era drivers in Hamilton verstappen and leclerc . As a visual person I would love to see some basics graphics or pictures with annotations/lines added to bring the conversation to life even more . Thanks and great job 👏

I don't believe for a second that the next cars will have as much dirty air reduction as advertised. My pick is 10-15%, not the 50% the FIA say. Once Adrian Newey et Al get hold of the new aero they will be pulling out every gram of downforce - and therefore dirty air...that they can

Another superb video peter👌

Thank you for another very informative video, look forward to the next upload on this channel.

Would you not include Fernando Alonso in that top tier group?

I'm not sure what particularly changed with Lewis after Monza 2018 where he was within 1 - 1.5s of Kimi for a long time which was closer than ever in terms of following from behind as compared to the previous times but ever since then he's gone on to do it for many other races namely, HUN 19, BEL 19, GBR 19, AUS 20, CAN 19, ITA 19, FRA 20 and ESP 20 from what I can remember, he's able to stay there for long periods of time without seemingly damaging the tyres and also being able to keep the tempratures in check. It's been really good to watch coz I remember in 2017 the dirty air seemed like it was way worse than before and that following would be harder from then on. I do wonder if the bigger rear wings that came in in 2019 helped as well but like I said I first took proper note of it in Monza 2018

I also believe they almost more in tune with the car and are able to manage break temperatures and Tyre temperatures when they follow close allowing them to lose less performance vs other drivers. They still need to back out to cool them off but they don’t ruin the tyres from attempting a move or following.

I've been following you for 20 years Peter and I think this is your most astute insight ever!

Your measured and coherent views are always a breath of fresh air in these times of social media bullies.

Neat work peter

Hamilton had a massive pace advantage over the cars he was overtaking and still struggled to get past Alonso in an Alpine. Vettel and Sainz didn't have that luxury. Not trying to discredit what he did because it was impressive but there's more than a couple of drivers that could have achieved a similar result. Most of these drivers are all top class and the biggest factor in their success is the car they are driving

Eye opener level analysis, doesn’t get any better. Thank you.

Very good explanation! I sim race but I'm ~2 sec off the pace of the aliens. But if you watch Aliens drive, even though they are within 0.1, you notice how different their driving style are. Some are so smooth with the wheel, some drivers looks like they "throw" the car into a corner with fast motion of the wheel. And their use of the pedals are different too. (They "need" a different setup to achieve this.) But, as I said, they are doing laps within +/-0.1. So I get what Peter was trying to explain. There are more ways to get around the track doing same laptimes. You have to watch serious sim like ACC and point of view of these Alien streamers. Examples: Nils, Jardier,...

I completely agree with Peter!! The new regulations will make it harder for viewers to observe and compare the driver quality when racing wheel to wheel or behind in the dirty air.

Solid analysis but ham's car is at least 1s quicker than any midfield car in any scenario...

The best drivers don't step in the car, they put it on.

Best analysis and best in the business. Appreciate these videos. Amazing

Excellent explanation mister Windsor.

Is a good explanation and I totally agree with Peter. The 3 mentioned drivers always close in much better indeed.

No offense but lets not pretend the fact that Lewis was able to stay so close to Fernando is all due to skill... his car was 3 seconds per lap faster. Which is a BOAT LOAD faster. That's like giving one guy track shoes and making the other run in sandals.

A note on your point about the backmarkers, I remember in France 2021, when Charles was desperately trying to keep Daniel Ricciardo behind because of the car eating the tyres, Charles still partly used this "backmarker" technique, but while passing the slower Alfas and Williams who hadn't pit yet, and Daniel Struggled to get past these slower cars which allowed Charles to built a gap of around a second and he held on for 9 or so laps more then he should have with dead tyres.

Lewis is a level above other drivers in this aspect. He stays glued to the gearbox of the car ahead for lap after lap im surprised he doesn't get any overheating related DNFs

The advantage may water down, but not be gone. It will just be a closer Race !

I've never seen Alonso struggle for long to pass a slower/equal car ahead is possible to pass in the sport today by someone. It was another era but at the time Vettel never had any issue passing Webber, dunno if it was because that era of cars or that car in particular suited him better or if he just has lost some talent with age, he's miles away from where he once was, he out drove Webber completely and I don't think Webber is a bad driver by any means. Back in those days taller drivers had a big disadvantage by the weight rules, incredible how they didn't fix that until fairly recently.. When Riccardo is agreeing with his car he also doesn't struggle to overtake a slower or even evenly paced car like Verstappen.. Baku 2018, yes they crashed in the end but before that Riccardo passed Max and back and fourth it went. Drivers that **cannot** pass equally as well as HAM/VER/ALO/LEC IMHO - I'm not saying they are bad just not top tear: Lando, Bottas, Sainz, Gastly, Ocon, Vettel 2021, Yuki, Stroll, Latifi, Kimi 2021, Antonio, Perez 2021, Riccardo 2021, Mazepin Equally good also: ? Russel ? - has made too many misstakes however.. At their peak I'd say these WHERE equally good: Vettel, Kimi, Perez and Riccardo but no longer today. Unknown (rubish car): Mick Schumacher

That is super interesting to consider for 2022. The team interpretations for the new rules will make the difference next year.

Thier cars fit like a glove🤘🏻 it looks like Its a part of them & they make it look comfortable 🏁

What a masterpiece!

I think becase the three you mentioned are able to adapt creatively to the situation, they will also adapt and find an advantage in this.

So glad I found this channel.

Learned a lot from this vid, Peter. Thanks for posting.

Thanks for this Peter. Of thr three drivers mentioned, Max and Lewis are feel drivers if you compare thier performance in the wet and that I think make them drivers that follow other drivers in dirty air as well. Persons are saying that the new Regs will be detrimental to the likes of Lewis, but Lewis is one of the few drivers I have seen in this Era of Formula 1 who has been able to follow very closely for a high number of laps despite the dirty air and that alone can force drivers into mistakes... Even experienced drivers like Alonso. I think the 2022 rules will help all but definitely help Lewis a lot.

Thanks for this video. Because it explains a bit what Alonso said about using the backmarkers to depend against Schumi. Been watching f1 for over 6 years now and never saw that skill.

Peter is always brilliant in his analysis

a great example of this is how charles attacked turn 3 in austria a few weeks ago to be close on the run down to 4

Great video Peter thanks. Very interesting. You mentioned how every era of driver has to adapt to the new conditions of the times. (Stirling and James Hunts ability to use the traffic to their advantage, now Lewis Charles and Max are masters of the dirty air). My question is, with 2022 cars being totally new and for sure the beginning of another new era, what do you think the new skills that drivers will be required to master? Or will it simply be a new era of race craft and defensive strategies with (in theory) everybody able to follow closely.

I would love if you make a video about Micheal Schumacher's driving style

oops, i think you just opened a door to a topic that deserves a deeper dive -- what is offered by the 2022 car and how will top drivers exploit its potential? if the skill in the dirty air scenario will no longer be a defining characteristic next year, what will? could there be a novel 5th, or 6th box added to your mastery list? anyway, love your observations, deconstructions and analyses -- my simple list for great journalism.

Sounds, at least in principle, a little like how people used to say Dale Earnhardt SR could “see” the air coming off of cars around him, and that that’s what made him so good on Superspeedways.

I head what you are saying about 2022 car. But the transcendental drivers will naturally find another aspect of the car to excel at. They probably won’t know they are doing it but they will. To me HAM VER LEC will be at the top. I would add ALO to thise. RIC VET will be just short. The rest will be able to drive better but the 2022 car will not dramatically change things. And those machines will look fantastic.

I like that Peter you are the few that discuss these nuanced detail. All in all, agree, racing and control is all about the feel, balance etc. The same with soccer, cricket or other sports. Some are better that the others. In 2022 the cars will be the same for everyone so Ham, Lec, Max will still be relatively better than the others, if the complexity of overtaking is fully nullefied, then we have a problem. Overtaking will no longer be intresting.

What a great video and analysis.

Brilliant video this best analyst in the game 👏👏

Thanks for the education

You're right, but Hamilton was in Mercedes which is 1 s faster, than than Alpine, and he was on 2 s faster rubber, than Alonso. In a same car, and rubber he couldn't put pressure on him, just look the earlier part of the race. What is more evident the last Monza race. Hamilton, after the penalty came to strong point finish from nowhere, compare to Bottas who couldn't do nothing in traffic.

At this point of time it's only Louis who is good at overtaking with these cars no one else not a single person

Brazil 2016, passing Rosberg in the rain from the outside.

Question to Peter Windsor: I understand that the 2022 car will not showcase this dirty air ability as much as the current formula. However, will the less turbulent new cars enable Lewis, Max, and Charles to be even quicker? In other words, with a smaller performance deficit from turbulent air, when there is this a deficit to exploit, will the ability to capitalize be even more pronounced? Basically, now few people can get close enough to pass - with the 2022 cars in theory being easier to follow, do you see Lewis, Max, and Charles just blitzing people because they can utilize all these small opportunities? Maybe it would be harder to see on TV, but could the effect be these three constantly passing others (more so than even now) Maybe I’m overthinking - just curious.

I mean how many times have we seen Valterri or Max’s teammates get stuck in the pack but Lewis or Max always get through

Next year's cars are bound to have a higher top speed, coming from more sustained acceleration in the 2nd half of a straight. It may be like a double DRS situation now. With less turbulence and overall downforce, a car without DRS may offer the car behind ever less of a tow. But yes, the car behind will be closer at the start of the straight which then makes out breaking easier. The DRS and tow will be worth less though. Follow 4 tenths closer, gain 2 tenths less in DRS and tow?

I think it makes sense to understand that the lower the rake the (slightly) easier is to follow the car on front. Mercedes has always been a good car in those situations and Lewis has years of being used to it. Higher rake cars like the Red Bull and AT, suffer more in the dirty air and it is specially unstable in the rear. Higher rake = stronger rear downforce but more drag. Its just basic physics, dirty air is going to be a little more impacting on a higher rake car.

Wonderful analysis as usual, however, we now saw Carlos beat Charles in his first year at Ferrari so that may have weakened LeClerc’s inclusion in that triumvirate. He needs to show he belongs in that club this year, at the very least by beating his teammate in the new ride. This first race is going to be exciting like Christmas morning opening presents. Who got the good gift and who got the lump of coal? We’ll see who nailed it, lights out in and away we go 😃

So enjoy your insights-Analysis-presentation- trust you’re right - 😎😳

Peter, I appreciate you because you provide knowledge and insight that helps me learn. I do agree but as you well know the new formula will present drivers with something different to contend with.

I hope everything gets better next year

Kimi and Lonso had some Awesome Races this Year! When those two got a better Car they will Win Races!

I think you are right about the reduction of dirty air making the playing field more equal, but i also think you are a bit wrong. Because underbody ground effect downforce is highly sensitive to setup and clearance, and so there will be new advantages to be had by those who can control their care well and therefor run stiffer and lower setups that are a lot more twitchy in a neat and tidy way, that will probably have a large effect on pace ✌🏻 Agree?:)

I agree that those three have a unique talent. Do you think that with the new cars there ability to follow in dirty air will still be show, in that they will be able to make their car actually have even less effect from dirty air so if the car when close is to lose like 18% downforce they will make the car feel like it has lost 5% and be able to attack more. i hope it give them the ability to show true race craft. All the drivers are fast but not all are racers this is not to knock anyone just to show a rare talent.

Thing is all great drivers turn in earlier than the rest. They are in oversteer at the start of the corner and slightly understeer in the middle and then control the corner with the throttle

thank you

Lewis with a car >2 seconds faster than cars at the front is a terrible example for skills driving in dirty air

Thanks Peter for your insightful analysis on which drivers will be more affected for the new tools in 2022. Does it means next season on F1 races, will be more even or competitive between the drivers??.

amazing insights

Great analysis!!

Thank you for the insight. I was happy Seb got on the podium, but the whole time I couldn't help but feel like he shouldve won that race. I know its difficult to pass, but had seb been in front of Ocon, Ocon wouldve lost DRS and left behind. Theres no way Seb wouldve been within 2 seconds of Esteban for pretty much the entire race if it werent for the car being capable. Seb just wasnt picking his lines well enough for the occasion. Ocon knew Seb was there, but he wasnt on his gear box enough for consecutive laps to get Ocon sweating.

Speaking about another subject Peter , maybe is just me but I notice the Mercedes with this new kit “upgrade “ it seems very much high rake f1 car now , in the Hungarian Gp I have a picture from the side of the Mercedes and I can say it looks really high rake . Great video once again Peter