‘The stopwatch never lies’ is a Formula 1 cliche for a reason. Every weekend, the emptied fuel tanks and top engine power modes engage in qualifying and, typically, the quickest car/driver combination will prevail. But the races in the modern age, with their fragile tyres and mandated fuel rules, are masked-up different contests altogether.
Possessing the quickest car remains the key advantage, and so often the drivers with this X factor are victorious. But the need to manage the tyres and fuel while doing real and tactical battle means a car lacking the purest performance in qualifying can be coaxed to victory. The 2024 season summed this up well. Max Verstappen and Red Bull dominated early on, before the rest caught up – led by McLaren – and suddenly wins and poles were being split aplenty.
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