Round 1 · 1978

Autódromo Juan y Oscar Gálvez

Buenos Aires, Argentina · January 15, 1978 · Circuit History · Wikipedia

The race, in perspective

Race debrief

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

R011978
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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
M. AndrettiTeam Lotus #92205 No error range P1 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
N. LaudaBrabham #12475 No error range P2 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
P. DepaillerTyrrell #52280 No error range P3 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
J. HuntMcLaren #42305 No error range P4 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
R. PetersonTeam Lotus #142130 No error range P5 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
P. TambayMcLaren #172094 No error range P6 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
C. ReutemannFerrari #32318 No error range P7 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
G. VilleneuveFerrari #192062 No error range P8 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
E. FittipaldiFittipaldi #162103 No error range P9 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
J. ScheckterWolf #22327 No error range P10 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
J. MassATS #102196 No error range P11 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
J. JarierATS #182087 No error range P12 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
B. LungerMcLaren #132182 No error range P13 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
D. PironiTyrrell #22.52000 No error range P14 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
C. RegazzoniShadow #152114 No error range P15 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
J. LaffiteLigier #72244 No error range DNFEngine Not assessedQualifying unavailable
H. StuckShadow #112195 No error range P17 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
V. BrambillaSurtees #82217 No error range P18 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
J. WatsonBrabham #202061 No error range DNFEngine Not assessedQualifying unavailable
A. JonesWilliams #62274 No error range DNFFuel system Not assessedQualifying unavailable
D. OngaisEnsign #212050 No error range DNFDistributor Not assessedQualifying unavailable
L. LeoniEnsign #241974 No error range DNFEngine Not assessedQualifying unavailable
A. MerzarioMerzario #261927 No error range DNFDifferential Not assessedQualifying unavailable
R. KeeganSurtees #122184 No error range DNFOverheating Not assessedQualifying unavailable
H. RebaqueTeam Lotus #271834 Grid unnumbered No error range DNQDid not qualify Not assessedQualifying unavailable
E. CheeverTheodore #22.52000 Grid unnumbered No error range DNQDid not qualify Not assessedQualifying unavailable
D. GalicaHesketh #251946 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

Keegan−81.2 Elo

Largest grid-to-finish gain

Lunger+11 places

The bigger picture

Championship after this round

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

  1. 1 Andretti 9pts
  2. 2 Lauda 6pts
  3. 3 Depailler 4pts
  4. 4 Hunt 3pts
  5. 5 Peterson 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.

Brabham

LaudaP2+18.6 Elo
WatsonDNF−16.6 Elo

Non-finish recorded; no finishing gap comparison.

ATS

MassP11+7.9 Elo
JarierP12+26.6 Elo

1 place apart at the finish.

Ensign

OngaisDNF−28.3 Elo
LeoniDNF−18.8 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 (Lauda)
10
Non-finishes

Race

Qualifying

# Driver Grid +/- Points Season Pts Season # Elo Change Elo
P1 🇺🇸 M.Andretti 1 +9 9 P1 +76.4 2,281
P2 🇦🇹 N.Lauda 5 +3 +6 6 P2 +18.6 2,494
P3 🇫🇷 P.Depailler 10 +7 +4 4 P3 +45.3 2,326
P4 🇬🇧 J.Hunt 6 +2 +3 3 P4 +33.1 2,338
P5 🇸🇪 R.Peterson 3 -2 +2 2 P5 +65.9 2,196
P6 🇫🇷 P.Tambay 9 +3 +1 1 P6 +67.4 2,161
P7 🇦🇷 C.Reutemann 2 -5 0 0 P7 +9.3 2,327
P8 🇨🇦 G.Villeneuve 7 -1 0 0 P8 +60.8 2,123
P9 🇧🇷 E.Fittipaldi 17 +8 0 0 P9 +44.0 2,147
P10 🇿🇦 J.Scheckter 15 +5 0 0 P10 -13.6 2,313
P11 🇩🇪 J.Mass 13 +2 0 0 P11 +7.9 2,204
P12 🇫🇷 J.Jarier 11 -1 0 0 P12 +26.6 2,114
P13 🇺🇸 B.Lunger 24 +11 0 0 P13 -2.9 2,179
P14 🇫🇷 D.Pironi 23 +9 0 0 P14 +32.2 2,032
P15 🇨🇭 C.Regazzoni 16 +1 0 0 P15 -0.8 2,113
DNF 🇫🇷 J.Laffite 8 0 0 P16 -38.3 2,205
P17 🇩🇪 H.Stuck 18 +1 0 0 P17 -34.1 2,160
P18 🇮🇹 V.Brambilla 12 -6 0 0 P18 -46.3 2,170
DNF 🇬🇧 J.Watson 4 0 0 P19 -16.6 2,044
DNF 🇦🇺 A.Jones 14 0 0 P20 -73.2 2,200
DNF 🇺🇸 D.Ongais 21 0 0 P21 -28.3 2,022
DNF 🇮🇹 L.Leoni 22 0 0 P22 -18.8 1,955
DNF 🇮🇹 A.Merzario 20 0 0 P23 -16.7 1,911
DNF 🇬🇧 R.Keegan 19 0 0 P24 -81.2 2,103
DNQ 🇲🇽 H.Rebaque 0 0 0 P25 -15.4 1,818
DNQ 🇺🇸 E.Cheever 0 0 0 P26 -52.5 1,948
DNQ 🇬🇧 D.Galica 0 0 0 P27 -48.6 1,898

Qualifying results are not available for this race.

Elo Changes