Round 5 · 1980

Zolder

Heusden-Zolder, Belgium · May 04, 1980 · Circuit History · Wikipedia

The race, in perspective

Race debrief

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

R051980
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27 stored results 27/27 Elo snapshots 24/27 numbered grid slots 0/27 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.

0/27 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.

0/27 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 → P27vs expectedReading
D. PironiLigier #12386 No error range P1 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
A. JonesWilliams #52320 No error range P2 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
C. ReutemannWilliams #192126 No error range P3 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
R. ArnouxRenault #32335 No error range P4 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
J. JarierTyrrell #162171 No error range P5 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
G. VilleneuveFerrari #112239 No error range P6 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
K. RosbergFittipaldi #122213 No error range P7 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
J. ScheckterFerrari #72301 No error range P8 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
D. DalyTyrrell #102242 No error range P9 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
E. de AngelisTeam Lotus #202117 No error range DNFSpun off Not assessedQualifying unavailable
J. LaffiteLigier #142203 No error range P11 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
J. LammersATS #251898 No error range DNFEngine Not assessedQualifying unavailable
J. WatsonMcLaren #62314 No error range NCNot classified Not assessedQualifying unavailable
R. PatreseArrows #82264 No error range DNFSpun off Not assessedQualifying unavailable
M. AndrettiTeam Lotus #222069 No error range DNFGearbox Not assessedQualifying unavailable
P. DepaillerAlfa Romeo #132203 No error range DNFExhaust Not assessedQualifying unavailable
N. PiquetBrabham #22371 No error range DNFSpun off Not assessedQualifying unavailable
A. ProstMcLaren #212114 No error range DNFTransmission Not assessedQualifying unavailable
E. FittipaldiFittipaldi #42323 No error range DNFElectrical Not assessedQualifying unavailable
T. NeedellEnsign #242000 No error range DNFEngine Not assessedQualifying unavailable
B. GiacomelliAlfa Romeo #152191 No error range DNFSuspension Not assessedQualifying unavailable
R. ZuninoBrabham #182156 No error range DNFGearbox Not assessedQualifying unavailable
J. MassArrows #92248 No error range DNFSpun off Not assessedQualifying unavailable
J. JabouilleRenault #172158 No error range DNFClutch Not assessedQualifying unavailable
G. LeesShadow #232020 Grid unnumbered No error range DNQDid not qualify Not assessedQualifying unavailable
D. KennedyShadow #271869 Grid unnumbered No error range DNQDid not qualify Not assessedQualifying unavailable
E. CheeverOsella #261882 Grid unnumbered No error range DNQDid not qualify 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 loss

Mass−91.2 Elo

Largest grid-to-finish gain

Rosberg+14 places

The bigger picture

Championship after this round

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

  1. 1 Arnoux 21pts 0
  2. 2 Jones 19pts +1
  3. 3 Piquet 18pts −1
  4. 4 Pironi 17pts 0
  5. 5 Patrese 7pts 0

Movement since round 4. A dash means the earlier standing is unavailable.

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

WatsonNC−27.7 Elo
ProstDNF−14.5 Elo

Non-finish recorded; no finishing gap comparison.

Arrows

PatreseDNF−23.0 Elo
MassDNF−91.2 Elo

Non-finish recorded; no finishing gap comparison.

Brabham

PiquetDNF−73.6 Elo
ZuninoDNF−58.1 Elo

Non-finish recorded; no finishing gap comparison.

Shadow

LeesDNQ−47.6 Elo
KennedyDNQ−25.8 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 →
27
Result Entries
Avg Elo
Highest Elo (Pironi)
17
Non-finishes

Race

Qualifying

# Driver Grid +/- Points Season Pts Season # Elo Change Elo
P1 🇫🇷 D.Pironi 2 +1 +9 17 P4 +52.2 2,438
P2 🇦🇺 A.Jones 1 -1 +6 19 P2 +59.5 2,380
P3 🇦🇷 C.Reutemann 4 +1 +4 6 P8 +103.4 2,229
P4 🇫🇷 R.Arnoux 6 +2 +3 21 P1 +39.8 2,375
P5 🇫🇷 J.Jarier 9 +4 +2 2 P14 +74.9 2,246
P6 🇨🇦 G.Villeneuve 12 +6 +1 1 P18 +48.3 2,288
P7 🇫🇮 K.Rosberg 21 +14 0 4 P9 +47.5 2,260
P8 🇿🇦 J.Scheckter 14 +6 0 2 P15 +15.9 2,317
P9 🇮🇪 D.Daly 11 +2 0 3 P11 +23.4 2,265
DNF 🇮🇹 E.de Angelis 8 0 6 P6 +49.3 2,166
P11 🇫🇷 J.Laffite 3 -8 0 6 P7 +17.9 2,221
DNF 🇳🇱 J.Lammers 15 0 0 P24 +82.2 1,980
NC 🇬🇧 J.Watson 20 0 3 P12 -27.7 2,286
DNF 🇮🇹 R.Patrese 16 0 7 P5 -23.0 2,241
DNF 🇺🇸 M.Andretti 17 0 0 P23 +21.3 2,090
DNF 🇫🇷 P.Depailler 10 0 0 P26 -22.4 2,180
DNF 🇧🇷 N.Piquet 7 0 18 P3 -73.6 2,297
DNF 🇫🇷 A.Prost 19 0 3 P13 -14.5 2,099
DNF 🇧🇷 E.Fittipaldi 24 0 4 P10 -78.5 2,245
DNF 🇬🇧 T.Needell 23 0 0 P28 -2.7 1,997
DNF 🇮🇹 B.Giacomelli 18 0 2 P16 -59.6 2,132
DNF 🇦🇷 R.Zunino 22 0 0 P19 -58.1 2,098
DNF 🇩🇪 J.Mass 13 0 1 P17 -91.2 2,157
DNF 🇫🇷 J.Jabouille 5 0 0 P22 -74.8 2,083
DNQ 🇬🇧 G.Lees 0 0 0 P25 -47.6 1,973
DNQ 🇮🇪 D.Kennedy 0 0 0 P29 -25.8 1,843
DNQ 🇺🇸 E.Cheever 0 0 0 P27 -36.2 1,846

Qualifying results are not available for this race.

Elo Changes