The truth behind Christian Horner’s Norris Mexico GP telemetry data

Christian Horner has argued that the stewards incorrectly interpreted the maneuver that cost Max Verstappen the first of two 10-second penalties at the Mexican GP.

The Red Bull team boss used a telemetry graph to explain his point. At PlanetF1.com we’ve been given access to the full telemetry: How much truth is there in Horner’s arguments?

Explanation: Christian Horner’s Lando Norris data

The graph that Horner showed us in the photo, taken by our colleague Elizabeth Blackstock at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit, shows us three different figures: the first is a speed comparison between Lando Norris‘incident on lap 10 with Verstappen and Norris’ data on lap 68, where he sets his personal fastest lap of the race.

On the other hand, the second number is a time difference between these two laps, with the reference being the lap of the incident.

And finally, at the bottom of the graph we can see the gear ratio of both laps, but cropped, although these last two figures are of little importance and can be ignored in this regard.

If we have access to the telemetry for both laps, we also have access to the speed, acceleration and braking data, which is what the Red Bull team boss is referring to in arguing that Norris braked later in his incident with Verstappen on lap 10.

Indeed, Horner notes that Norris is 15 km/h faster on lap 10 than his fastest lap, which is true.

According to our data, Norris is 14 km/h faster before reaching the braking zone in Turn 4 on the lap of the Verstappen incident.

But there is one important thing that Horner misses: on lap 10, Norris has Verstappen’s slipstream and DRS effect.

However, during his flying lap, Norris is in clean air and neither of these two factors helped him have extra speed.

Therefore, it weakens the argument for just talking about the speed approaching the turn.

On the accelerator front, we can see that Norris clearly takes his foot off the accelerator well before he reaches the Turn 4 braking on lap 10.

However, it is true that he lifts his foot more progressively and not as abruptly as in lap 68.

But this is because in order to try to overtake and have the apex advantage over Verstappen in Turn 4, it was necessary to do it that way.

As for the use of the brakes, Horner’s claim that Norris later braked when overtaking Verstappen on the outside of Turn 4 on lap 10 is incorrect.

It’s not as obvious as the accelerator, but it does show that Norris brakes just a few meters later during his personal fastest lap of the race.

However, Horner has a good point in his argument about this incident and that is to once again appeal to the subjectivity of the facts.

According to the FIA’s interpretation and my own telemetry analysis, Norris was able to make the corner and it is Verstappen who forces him off the track with more gas than Norris when leaving the apex.

However, Horner believes that this is not the case and relies on the stewards’ misinterpretation of the incident, which reads as follows: “The stewards are of the opinion that the maneuver was carried out in a safe and controlled manner and that Norris could have done this. to make the maneuver on the track if he had not been forced off the track by Verstappen.”

If Norris really couldn’t make the corner, as Horner says, in my opinion Verstappen wouldn’t have had to go to the extreme and force him off the track.

In that case, Norris himself would have exceeded the track limits and Verstappen would not have had to defend the position so aggressively.

The stewards’ incorrect interpretation is something McLaren also took into account in the Austin controversy, claiming that Norris was the “defending driver” and not the “attacking driver”, although as we have in our analysis of that incident explained, that interpretation made a great impression. feeling when analyzing the telemetry and positions of both cars.

Horner themselves have admitted that this time they will not exercise their right to review the stewards’ decision, as the Woking team did.

Analysis: Mexican Grand Prix

Conclusions GP of Mexico: Verstappen’s own biggest enemy, the end seems near for Perez

How Max Verstappen’s telemetry data shows he fell into his own trap twice

There’s something else in Horner’s comments that is quite striking: when he talks about using apex to determine which driver has the privileged position when it comes to an overtaking maneuver.

He said: “So I think we are at risk of…. It used to be a prize for the bravest to go around outside. “I think we run the risk of reversing the overtaking laws, where drivers try to overtake at the apex and then argue that you have to give them space at the turn.”

“You can clearly see he over-braked, he came too late to try to win that argument, the way the regulations are written, and at that point you get penalized.”

Horner again refers in this case to the Driving Standard Guidelines regarding overtaking on the outside of a bend, which mentions the peculiarity of being at the front at the apex of the bend and the advantage this gives to the overtaking car: “When considering what an overtaking maneuver on the outside of a corner, among the various factors to be taken into account in the exercise of their discretion, the stewards will take into account whether the overtaking car is ahead of the other car from the top of the bend. the corner.”

This is certainly a strategy that Verstappen has used successfully for years, both when overtaking on the inside and on the outside, not least during the American GP, ​​where the Dutch driver clearly tried to stay ahead of Norris at the apex of the corner 12, without the intention of staying within the track limits.

As Horner himself noted after this incident in Austin: “It’s clear that all the drivers know very well what the rules are. They discuss these issues and specific corners in the briefings with the various stewards, stewards and the Race Director.”

So now that the Red Bull team boss has seen that his driver’s most direct rival has learned his lesson about how to use the guidelines to his advantage, he is apparently no longer happy with the ‘overtaking laws’ that so often favor Verstappen have favoured. in recent years, because the Dutch driver was the only one brave enough to risk everything to follow the overtaking laws to the millimeter.

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