Spa, Belgium
A strong driver recovering from a poor qualifying position isn't automatically a surprise. This model estimates a finish from both pre-race Elo and qualifying, 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 423 earlier finishes across 29 races, 2000–2009. No results from this race enter its expectation.
Missing Elo or qualifying stays visible in the full grid. A grid position is not used as a qualifying result.
Expected P5.3 Finished P1
Expected P10.1 Finished P6
Expected P6.9 Finished P3
Expected P6.1 Finished P10
Expected P5.8 Finished P9
Expected P4.2 Finished P7
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 → P20 | vs expected | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K. RäikkönenFerrari | #52255 | P6 | P5.3P1–P10 | P1 | +4.3places | In range | |
| G. FisichellaForce India | #142020 | P1 | P4.9P1–P9 | P2 | +2.9places | In range | |
| S. VettelRed Bull | #92168 | P8 | P6.9P2–P11 | P3 | +3.9places | In range | |
| R. KubicaBMW Sauber | #132101 | P5 | P6.4P2–P11 | P4 | +2.4places | In range | |
| N. HeidfeldBMW Sauber | #122135 | P3 | P5.3P1–P10 | P5 | +0.3places | In range | |
| H. KovalainenMcLaren | #102155 | P15 | P10.1P6–P15 | P6 | +4.1places | In range | |
| R. BarrichelloBrawn | #42308 | P4 | P4.2P1–P9 | P7 | −2.8places | In range | |
| N. RosbergWilliams | #32324 | P10 | P6.6P2–P11 | P8 | −1.4places | In range | |
| M. WebberRed Bull | #12372 | P9 | P5.8P1–P10 | P9 | −3.2places | In range | |
| T. GlockToyota | #72202 | P7 | P6.1P2–P11 | P10 | −3.9places | In range | |
| A. SutilForce India | #191907 | P11 | P10.1P6–P15 | P11 | −0.9places | In range | |
| S. BuemiToro Rosso | #201893 | P16 | P12.4P8–P17 | P12 | +0.4places | In range | |
| K. NakajimaWilliams | #152012 | P18 | P12.3P8–P17 | P13 | −0.7places | In range | |
| L. BadoerFerrari | #181971 | P20 | P13.8P9–P18 | P14 | −0.2places | In range | |
| F. AlonsoRenault | #82197 | P13 | P8.8P4–P13 | DNFRetired | — | Not assessedDNF: Retired | |
| J. TrulliToyota | #112136 | P2 | P4.7P1–P9 | DNFBrakes | — | Not assessedDNF: Brakes | |
| J. ButtonBrawn | #22369 | P14 | P8.1P4–P13 | DNFCollision | — | Not assessedDNF: Collision | |
| R. GrosjeanRenault | #161990 | P19 | P13.0P8–P18 | DNFCollision | — | Not assessedDNF: Collision | |
| L. HamiltonMcLaren | #62239 | P12 | P8.0P3–P13 | DNFCollision | — | Not assessedDNF: Collision | |
| J. AlguersuariToro Rosso | #171976 | P17 | P12.3P8–P17 | DNFCollision | — | Not assessedDNF: Collision |
Average absolute error on 423 classified finishes in 29 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 11. 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.
13 places apart at the finish.
Q1 · Räikkönen 1.378s faster
9 places apart at the finish.
Q2 · Fisichella 0.452s faster
6 places apart at the finish.
Q3 · Vettel 0.027s faster
1 place apart at the finish.
Q3 · Heidfeld 0.086s faster
Non-finish recorded; no finishing gap comparison.
Q2 · Hamilton 0.137s faster
Non-finish recorded; no finishing gap comparison.
Q2 · Barrichello 0.417s faster
5 places apart at the finish.
Q1 · Rosberg 0.821s faster
Non-finish recorded; no finishing gap comparison.
Q3 · Trulli 0.282s faster
Non-finish recorded; no finishing gap comparison.
Q1 · Buemi 0.351s faster
Non-finish recorded; no finishing gap comparison.
Q1 · Alonso 0.652s 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 →