What did we expect after qualifying—and who beat it?
A strong driver recovering from a poor qualifying position isn't automatically a surprise. This model estimates a finish from both inputs, then compares it with what happened.
Expected finish assumes a classified finish. DNFs stay in the full grid but receive no performance verdict. Qualifying is not the starting grid; grid differences are flagged, not silently substituted.
Fit on 826 earlier finishes across 49 races, 2016–2026. No results from this race enter its expectation.
Expected P5.3 Finished P1
Expected P12.9 Finished P10
Expected P5.8 Finished P3
Expected P10.3 Finished P14
Expected P12.0 Finished P15
Expected P4.2 Finished P7
19/22 entrants assessed. Up to three per side, ranked by expected minus actual finish. DNFs, missing estimates and gaps rounding to 0.0 are excluded. “Flop” means below the model's estimate—not poor driving. A ranked gap can still be inside the usual error range.
| Driver | Pre-race Elo | Qualifying | Expected | Result | P1 ← position → P22 | vs expected | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. AntonelliMercedes | #22416 | P7 Grid P19 | P5.3P1–P9 | P1 | +4.3places | In range | |
| G. RussellMercedes | #52382 | P2 | P3.6P1–P8 | P2 | +1.6places | In range | |
| M. VerstappenRed Bull | #62308 | P6 Grid P5 | P5.8P2–P10 | P3 | +2.8places | In range | |
| L. NorrisMcLaren | #32408 | P9 Grid P8 | P6.5P2–P11 | P4 | +2.5places | In range | |
| O. PiastriMcLaren | #72299 | P3 Grid P6 | P4.6P1–P9 | P5 | −0.4places | In range | |
| L. HamiltonFerrari | #12442 | P5 Grid P4 | P4.0P1–P8 | P6 | −2.0places | In range | |
| P. GaslyAlpine F1 Team | #92181 | P1 | P4.2P1–P8 | P7 | −2.8places | In range | |
| A. LindbladRB F1 Team | #102169 | P10 Grid P9 | P8.9P5–P13 | P8 | +0.9places | In range | |
| F. ColapintoAlpine F1 Team | #132115 | P8 Grid P7 | P8.7P5–P13 | P9 | −0.3places | In range | |
| Y. TsunodaRB F1 Team | #122116 | P17 Grid P15 | P12.9P9–P17 | P10 | +2.9places | In range | |
| G. BortoletoAudi | #112158 | P11 Grid P10 | P9.7P6–P14 | P11 | −1.3places | In range | |
| N. HülkenbergAudi | #142092 | P13 Grid P12 | P11.5P7–P16 | P12 | −0.5places | In range | |
| C. SainzWilliams | #152054 | P15 Grid P13 | P12.7P9–P17 | P13 | −0.3places | In range | |
| L. LawsonRed Bull | #82240 | P14 Grid P22 | P10.3P6–P14 | P14 | −3.7places | In range | |
| O. BearmanHaas F1 Team | #182020 | P12 Grid P11 | P12.0P8–P16 | P15 | −3.0places | In range | |
| E. OconHaas F1 Team | #162044 | P16 Grid P14 | P13.5P9–P18 | P16 | −2.5places | In range | |
| A. AlbonWilliams | #191985 | P18 Grid P20 | P15.3P11–P19 | P17 | −1.7places | In range | |
| S. PérezCadillac F1 Team | #201964 | P20 Grid P17 | P16.5P12–P21 | P18 | −1.5places | In range | |
| V. BottasCadillac F1 Team | #221866 | P19 Grid P16 | P16.6P12–P21 | P19 | −2.4places | In range | |
| L. StrollAston Martin | #211915 | P22 Grid P18 | P17.8P14–P22 | DNFRetired | — | Not assessedDNF: Retired | |
| F. AlonsoAston Martin | #172036 | P21 | P16.2P12–P20 | DNFRetired | — | Not assessedDNF: Retired | |
| C. LeclercFerrari | #42395 | P4 Grid P3 | P4.3P1–P8 | DNFRetired | — | Not assessedDNF: Retired |
Average absolute error on 826 classified finishes in 49 earlier races within the last ten years. Each race was held out and predicted using only older races; all three models use the same samples.
The range scales the 80th percentile of earlier held-out absolute errors to this field size, rounding outward. It is an empirical error guide, not a guaranteed 80% chance for a particular driver. We require at least five checked races and 100 checked finishes before showing it.
Inputs are field-normalised Elo rank and qualifying position. The target is position among all race entries, trained only on classified finishers. Estimates are averages, not a unique predicted finishing order. Penalties, the circuit, weather, incidents and strategy aren't model inputs. Historical qualifying coverage is patchy; this is an exploratory backtest on corrected records, not proof of live forecasting accuracy.
These are actual rating changes. The expectation model above does not change Elo or fantasy scoring.
Top five in the stored standings. Points include sprint results where applicable.
Movement since round 12. A dash means the earlier standing is unavailable.
Explore the season →Two-driver constructor entries from this race. A result comparison, not an adjustment for strategy or reliability.
1 place apart at the finish.
Q3 · Russell 0.247s faster
11 places apart at the finish.
Q2 · Verstappen 0.633s faster
1 place apart at the finish.
Q3 · Piastri 0.290s faster
Non-finish recorded; no finishing gap comparison.
Q3 · Leclerc 0.007s faster
2 places apart at the finish.
Q3 · Gasly 0.434s faster
2 places apart at the finish.
Q1 · Lindblad 1.028s faster
1 place apart at the finish.
Q2 · Bortoleto 0.262s faster
4 places apart at the finish.
Q1 · Sainz 0.740s faster
1 place apart at the finish.
Q2 · Bearman 0.698s faster
1 place apart at the finish.
Q1 · Bottas 0.231s faster
Non-finish recorded; no finishing gap comparison.
Q1 · Alonso 0.072s faster
This debrief is calculated from stored results and rating snapshots. The experimental expectation model learns from earlier races only, using Elo rank and qualifying together; it never feeds back into Elo. It is not a separately reviewed race report.
Elo uses the result order, including retirements. It does not isolate driver skill from the car, reliability, penalties or strategy. Elo seed comparisons use pre-race ratings, never today's ratings. Equal ratings share the midpoint of their rank range (for example, tied first and second become seed 1.5).
Grid gains use numbered starting slots and classified finishes only. Zero or missing grid values are excluded; a position gained is not necessarily an overtake. Qualifying gaps use the latest segment both teammates have a valid time for, never Q1 against Q3.
Lap-by-lap pace, tyre stints, pit-stop execution and safety-car effects are not available in this report. Missing data is omitted, not inferred.
Read the Elo methodology →| # | Driver | Grid | +/- | Points | Season Pts | Season # | Elo Change | Elo | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | 🇮🇹 |
|
A.Antonelli | 19 | +18 | +25 | 267 | P1 | +25.0 | 2,441 |
| P2 | 🇬🇧 |
|
G.Russell | 2 | — | +18 | 201 | P2 | +23.2 | 2,405 |
| P3 | 🇳🇱 |
|
M.Verstappen | 5 | +2 | +15 | 127 | P6 | +26.6 | 2,335 |
| P4 | 🇬🇧 |
|
L.Norris | 8 | +4 | +12 | 171 | P4 | +9.4 | 2,417 |
| P5 | 🇦🇺 |
|
O.Piastri | 6 | +1 | +10 | 114 | P7 | +16.8 | 2,316 |
| P6 | 🇬🇧 |
|
L.Hamilton | 4 | -2 | +8 | 191 | P3 | -5.0 | 2,437 |
| P7 | 🇫🇷 |
|
P.Gasly | 1 | -6 | +6 | 50 | P9 | +21.9 | 2,203 |
| P8 | 🇬🇧 |
|
A.Lindblad | 9 | +1 | +4 | 26 | P11 | +18.1 | 2,187 |
| P9 | 🇦🇷 |
|
F.Colapinto | 7 | -2 | +2 | 24 | P12 | +20.3 | 2,135 |
| P10 | 🇯🇵 |
|
Y.Tsunoda | 15 | +5 | +1 | 1 | P20 | +14.7 | 2,130 |
| P11 | 🇧🇷 |
|
G.Bortoleto | 10 | -1 | 0 | 10 | P14 | +3.3 | 2,161 |
| P12 | 🇩🇪 |
|
N.Hülkenberg | 12 | — | 0 | 6 | P15 | +7.1 | 2,099 |
| P13 | 🇪🇸 |
|
C.Sainz | 13 | — | 0 | 6 | P16 | +6.7 | 2,061 |
| P14 | 🇳🇿 |
|
L.Lawson | 22 | +8 | 0 | 47 | P10 | -24.6 | 2,216 |
| P15 | 🇬🇧 |
|
O.Bearman | 11 | -4 | 0 | 18 | P13 | +0.4 | 2,020 |
| P16 | 🇫🇷 |
|
E.Ocon | 14 | -2 | 0 | 3 | P18 | -8.2 | 2,035 |
| P17 | 🇹🇭 |
|
A.Albon | 20 | +3 | 0 | 5 | P17 | -6.2 | 1,979 |
| P18 | 🇲🇽 |
|
S.Pérez | 17 | -1 | 0 | 0 | P23 | -9.0 | 1,955 |
| P19 | 🇫🇮 |
|
V.Bottas | 16 | -3 | 0 | 0 | P22 | -4.0 | 1,862 |
| DNF | 🇨🇦 |
|
L.Stroll | 18 | 0 | 0 | P21 | -14.4 | 1,901 | |
| DNF | 🇪🇸 |
|
F.Alonso | 21 | 0 | 3 | P19 | -34.5 | 2,002 | |
| DNF | 🇲🇨 |
|
C.Leclerc | 3 | 0 | 155 | P5 | -87.6 | 2,308 |