Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez whitewashed the straight-line speed charts during Sunday’s French Grand Prix, demonstrating their power superiority.
The Honda-powered Red Bull has typically been the best in a straight line all season, and it was Verstappen that clocked the fastest speed over the start finish line at 305.6kph, 1.3kph clear of Perez.
The main speed trap is towards the end of the first part of the Mistral Straight heading into Turn Eight, and this is also a DRS zone along with the pit straight.
The Mexican went quickest there, perhaps due to the fact that he had DRS more frequently than his team-mate did as the Dutchman streaked ahead in the lead.
The 32-year-old was just 0.1kph quicker than Verstappen, who himself was over 3kph quicker in a straight line than third-placed Mick Schumacher.
What was particularly interesting was the difference over the line compared to the main measuring point on the circuit, and it was suggestive of different drivers’ approach through the final corner.
Sir Lewis Hamilton was fifth over the line but 19th generally, so he was gaining a lot of time throughout the race out of the final corner with the increased downforce on his car, before losing a bit more time on the straight.
The Ferrari-powered Alfa Romeos of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, as well as the Mercedes-powered Aston Martin cars of Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll, were all down towards the bottom in both categories.
Both McLarens of Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris were generally in the bottom half, which shows that, asides from the fact that the midfield fight is extremely close this year, is that set-up was crucial in France.
It was tough to strike a balance between straight-line speed and downforce, as evidenced by Mercedes’ average qualifying showing before performing very well in the race.
Both Hamilton and George Russell – who was ninth in the overall speed trap – finished ahead of Perez as they ended the race second and third respectively, taking Mercedes’ first double podium of the season.
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Verstappen took the win after Charles Leclerc crashed out of the lead, while Carlos Sainz, who started from the back due to an engine penalty, recovered to fifth behind Perez.
Leclerc and Sainz were sixth and 13th respectively in the speed trap on Sunday, although we did not get a true indication of the Monegasque’s speed on the straights due to his crash in the first half of the race.