Round 1 · 1991

Phoenix street circuit

Phoenix, USA · March 10, 1991 · Circuit History · Wikipedia

The race, in perspective

Race debrief

What did we expect after qualifying—and who beat it?

R011991
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34 stored results 34/34 Elo snapshots 26/34 numbered grid slots 0/34 qualifying results
Elo × qualifying → race result

Did they beat the expectation?

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.

Experimental · v1

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.

This race has insufficient earlier history: 0/20 races and 0/200 classified finishes with Elo and qualifying. Estimates are withheld.

0/34 entrants have an estimate. Missing Elo or qualifying stays visible below; a grid position is not used as a qualifying result.

Top 3

Beat the estimate

No comparable estimates available for this race yet.

Flop 3

Below the estimate

No comparable estimates available for this race yet.

0/34 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.

Full grid: pre-race Elo rank, qualifying position, estimated finish, actual result and difference from expectation. Positive differences mean finishing ahead of the estimate.
DriverPre-race EloQualifyingExpectedResultP1 ← position → P34vs expectedReading
A. SennaMcLaren #72342 No error range P1 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
A. ProstFerrari #22434 No error range P2 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
N. PiquetBenetton #12476 No error range P3 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
S. ModenaTyrrell #202079 No error range P4 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
S. NakajimaTyrrell #172134 No error range P5 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
A. SuzukiLarrousse #112178 No error range P6 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
N. LariniLambo #82323 No error range P7 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
G. TarquiniAGS #321890 No error range P8 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
P. MartiniMinardi #102208 No error range DNFEngine Not assessedQualifying unavailable
B. GachotJordan #341636 No error range DNFEngine Not assessedQualifying unavailable
M. BrundleBrabham #92255 No error range P11 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
J. AlesiFerrari #142154 No error range DNFGearbox Not assessedQualifying unavailable
M. HäkkinenTeam Lotus #262000 No error range DNFEngine Not assessedQualifying unavailable
R. PatreseWilliams #32418 No error range DNFGearbox Not assessedQualifying unavailable
R. MorenoBenetton #301976 No error range DNFCollision Not assessedQualifying unavailable
M. AlboretoFootwork #152142 No error range DNFEngine Not assessedQualifying unavailable
I. CapelliLeyton House #132157 No error range DNFGearbox Not assessedQualifying unavailable
T. BoutsenLigier #62358 No error range DNFEngine Not assessedQualifying unavailable
G. BergerMcLaren #52365 No error range DNFFuel pump Not assessedQualifying unavailable
N. MansellWilliams #42393 No error range DNFGearbox Not assessedQualifying unavailable
M. GugelminLeyton House #162138 No error range DNFGearbox Not assessedQualifying unavailable
M. BlundellBrabham #262000 No error range DNFSpun off Not assessedQualifying unavailable
E. PirroDallara #192103 No error range DNFGearbox Not assessedQualifying unavailable
G. MorbidelliMinardi #232005 No error range DNFGearbox Not assessedQualifying unavailable
J. JärvilehtoDallara #291996 No error range DNFGearbox Not assessedQualifying unavailable
É. BernardLarrousse #182109 No error range DNFEngine Not assessedQualifying unavailable
A. CaffiFootwork #122175 Grid unnumbered No error range DNQDid not qualify Not assessedQualifying unavailable
S. JohanssonAGS #311917 Grid unnumbered No error range DNQDid not qualify Not assessedQualifying unavailable
É. ComasLigier #262000 Grid unnumbered No error range DNQDid not qualify Not assessedQualifying unavailable
J. BaileyTeam Lotus #331860 Grid unnumbered No error range DNQDid not qualify Not assessedQualifying unavailable
A. de CesarisJordan #212046 Grid unnumbered No error range DNQDid not prequalify Not assessedQualifying unavailable
P. ChavesColoni #262000 Grid unnumbered No error range DNQDid not prequalify Not assessedQualifying unavailable
O. GrouillardFondmetal #222019 Grid unnumbered No error range DNQDid not prequalify Not assessedQualifying unavailable
E. van de PoeleLambo #262000 Grid unnumbered No error range DNQDid not prequalify Not assessedQualifying unavailable
How useful is the model? See the historical check

There is not enough earlier history for a rolling hold-out check yet.

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.

The rating ledger

What changed in Elo?

These are actual rating changes. The expectation model above does not change Elo or fantasy scoring.

Largest Elo gain

Gachot+135.7 Elo

Largest Elo loss

Mansell−75.0 Elo

Largest grid-to-finish gain

Suzuki+15 places

The bigger picture

Championship after this round

Top five in the stored standings. Points include sprint results where applicable.

  1. 1 Senna 10pts
  2. 2 Prost 6pts
  3. 3 Piquet 4pts
  4. 4 Modena 3pts
  5. 5 Nakajima 2pts

Opening round: no earlier standings in this season to compare.

Explore the season →
Across the garage

Teammate results

Two-driver constructor entries from this race. A result comparison, not an adjustment for strategy or reliability.

McLaren

SennaP1+53.7 Elo
BergerDNF−63.7 Elo

Non-finish recorded; no finishing gap comparison.

Ferrari

ProstP2+30.8 Elo
AlesiDNF+27.2 Elo

Non-finish recorded; no finishing gap comparison.

AGS

TarquiniP8+113.6 Elo
JohanssonDNQ−17.2 Elo

Non-finish recorded; no finishing gap comparison.

Ligier

BoutsenDNF−56.0 Elo
ComasDNQ−41.6 Elo

Non-finish recorded; no finishing gap comparison.

What this analysis can—and cannot—tell you

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 →
34
Result Entries
Avg Elo
Highest Elo (Piquet)
25
Non-finishes

Race

Qualifying

# Driver Grid +/- Points Season Pts Season # Elo Change Elo
P1 🇧🇷 A.Senna 1 +10 10 P1 +53.7 2,395
P2 🇫🇷 A.Prost 2 +6 6 P2 +30.8 2,465
P3 🇧🇷 N.Piquet 5 +2 +4 4 P3 +18.2 2,494
P4 🇮🇹 S.Modena 11 +7 +3 3 P4 +96.0 2,175
P5 🇯🇵 S.Nakajima 16 +11 +2 2 P5 +76.1 2,210
P6 🇯🇵 A.Suzuki 21 +15 +1 1 P6 +59.0 2,237
P7 🇮🇹 N.Larini 17 +10 0 0 P7 +19.9 2,343
P8 🇮🇹 G.Tarquini 22 +14 0 0 P8 +113.6 2,004
DNF 🇮🇹 P.Martini 15 0 0 P9 +33.0 2,241
DNF 🇧🇪 B.Gachot 14 0 0 P10 +135.7 1,772
P11 🇬🇧 M.Brundle 12 +1 0 0 P11 +9.5 2,265
DNF 🇫🇷 J.Alesi 6 0 0 P12 +27.2 2,182
DNF 🇫🇮 M.Häkkinen 13 0 0 P13 +58.7 2,059
DNF 🇮🇹 R.Patrese 3 0 0 P14 -41.7 2,376
DNF 🇧🇷 R.Moreno 8 0 0 P15 +51.7 2,027
DNF 🇮🇹 M.Alboreto 25 0 0 P16 +5.1 2,147
DNF 🇮🇹 I.Capelli 18 0 0 P17 -4.7 2,152
DNF 🇧🇪 T.Boutsen 20 0 0 P18 -56.0 2,302
DNF 🇦🇹 G.Berger 7 0 0 P19 -63.7 2,302
DNF 🇬🇧 N.Mansell 4 0 0 P20 -75.0 2,318
DNF 🇧🇷 M.Gugelmin 23 0 0 P21 -25.1 2,113
DNF 🇬🇧 M.Blundell 24 0 0 P22 +2.3 2,002
DNF 🇮🇹 E.Pirro 9 0 0 P23 -29.0 2,074
DNF 🇮🇹 G.Morbidelli 26 0 0 P24 -11.5 1,994
DNF 🇫🇮 J.Järvilehto 10 0 0 P25 -15.5 1,980
DNF 🇫🇷 É.Bernard 19 0 0 P26 -49.2 2,059
DNQ 🇮🇹 A.Caffi 0 0 0 P27 -71.9 2,103
DNQ 🇸🇪 S.Johansson 0 0 0 P28 -17.2 1,900
DNQ 🇫🇷 É.Comas 0 0 0 P29 -41.6 1,958
DNQ 🇬🇧 J.Bailey 0 0 0 P30 -18.8 1,842
DNQ 🇮🇹 A.de Cesaris 0 0 0 P31 -65.2 1,981
DNQ 🇵🇹 P.Chaves 0 0 0 P32 -60.4 1,940
DNQ 🇫🇷 O.Grouillard 0 0 0 P33 -71.1 1,948
DNQ 🇧🇪 E.van de Poele 0 0 0 P34 -72.9 1,927

Qualifying results are not available for this race.

Elo Changes