Let’s dive into the race data from today’s Singapore Sprint Qualifying.

Max Verstappen and George Russell share the front row. But where was pole position won and lost?

The first significant difference appears at Turn 4, where Max gains around 0.150 seconds. He holds that advantage through to Turn 7.

Then comes Turn 8. The Mercedes chassis shows impressive mechanical grip and stability through the slow section, allowing George to claw back around 0.600 seconds.

A similar pattern emerges through the other major corners. Mercedes appears stronger mechanically through the slow turns, while Red Bull seems to have the edge in energy deployment, harvesting and top-end power.

The decisive moment comes at Turn 21. Despite George being around 0.130 seconds ahead at Turn 16, Max finds enough performance in the final sector to take Sprint Pole by less than 0.200 seconds.

Mercedes wins in the corners. Red Bull wins where it matters most — across the line. 🏎️

We dug into the telemetry from the fastest laps of the leading drivers from Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren, looking for hidden patterns in how they use their power units.

One key comparison: engine RPM versus speed.

At first glance, the figures are remarkably similar — with one exception.

McLaren’s minimum RPM is significantly higher, suggesting shorter gear ratios.

But these numbers alone don't explain the performance gap. The real differences emerge in key corners and track sections, where the top drivers can be separated by more than 0.700 seconds.

One particularly revealing example is Turn 8, where the cars' performance through the slow-speed section becomes critical.

Similar top speeds. Similar RPM ranges. Very different lap times.

That’s where the deeper analysis gets interesting. 🏎️📊

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Mercedes look set to win both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships this year. For much of the season, they have had the fastest car and driver combination, while rivals have been chasing them with constant upgrades.

Mercedes, however, took its time before introducing a major upgrade at the Bahrain GP in Sepang.

Expectations were high, with many anticipating a step forward of around 0.600 seconds per lap. Instead, the car appears to have become slower.

How is that possible?

This is where simple logic meets the complex reality of F1. A new component or aerodynamic concept might look perfect in simulations, but on track, everything interacts — and the result can be very different from what engineers expect.

That is why experienced engineers are cautious about predicting performance gains. F1 is as much an art as a science, and even the best teams cannot fully control every variable.

Now the question is whether Mercedes can understand its upgraded car — or whether it will need to take a step back to move forward.

The next few races should tell us. 🏎️

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🏎️ The Fastest Lap Team

All images and videos used in The Fastest Lap Newsletter are our own or have been provided by our partners, including https://www.spasgp.com/

The Fastest Lap Newsletter is an independent project and is not affiliated with Formula 1 or any F1 team.

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That’s a chequered flag 🏁 for today.

Tomorrow, best. 🏎️