Round 16 · 1976

Fuji Speedway

Oyama, Japan · October 24, 1976 · Circuit History · Wikipedia

The race, in perspective

Race debrief

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

R161976
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26 stored results 26/26 Elo snapshots 25/26 numbered grid slots 0/26 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.

0/26 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.

0/26 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 → P26vs expectedReading
M. AndrettiTeam Lotus #102169 No error range P1 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
P. DepaillerTyrrell #92187 No error range P2 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
J. HuntMcLaren #22406 No error range P3 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
A. JonesSurtees #82209 No error range P4 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
C. RegazzoniFerrari #42348 No error range P5 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
G. NilssonTeam Lotus #172087 No error range P6 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
J. LaffiteLigier #152138 No error range P7 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
H. ErtlHesketh #192041 No error range P8 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
N. TakaharaSurtees #222000 No error range P9 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
J. JarierShadow #112153 No error range P10 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
M. HasemiKojima #222000 No error range P11 Not assessedQualifying unavailable
J. ScheckterTyrrell #12414 No error range DNFOverheating Not assessedQualifying unavailable
H. BinderWolf #202029 No error range DNFWheel Not assessedQualifying unavailable
T. PryceShadow #72230 No error range DNFPhysical Not assessedQualifying unavailable
V. BrambillaMarch #122146 No error range DNFElectrical Not assessedQualifying unavailable
H. StuckMarch #182062 No error range DNFElectrical Not assessedQualifying unavailable
J. MassMcLaren #62275 No error range DNFAccident Not assessedQualifying unavailable
J. WatsonPenske #52287 No error range DNFEngine Not assessedQualifying unavailable
K. HoshinoTyrrell #222000 No error range DNFTyre Not assessedQualifying unavailable
A. MerzarioWolf #251871 No error range DNFGearbox Not assessedQualifying unavailable
E. FittipaldiFittipaldi #162106 No error range DNSWithdrew Not assessedQualifying unavailable
C. PaceBrabham-Alfa Romeo #142139 No error range DNSWithdrew Not assessedQualifying unavailable
N. LaudaFerrari #32389 No error range DNSWithdrew Not assessedQualifying unavailable
L. PerkinsBrabham-Alfa Romeo #241978 No error range DNSWithdrew Not assessedQualifying unavailable
R. PetersonMarch #132145 No error range DNFEngine Not assessedQualifying unavailable
T. TrimmerMaki #261832 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

Lauda−120.1 Elo

Largest grid-to-finish gain

Jones+16 places

The bigger picture

Championship after this round

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

  1. 1 Hunt 69pts +1
  2. 2 Lauda 68pts −1
  3. 3 Scheckter 49pts 0
  4. 4 Depailler 39pts 0
  5. 5 Regazzoni 31pts 0

Movement since round 15. 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

HuntP3+21.2 Elo
MassDNF−55.4 Elo

Non-finish recorded; no finishing gap comparison.

Shadow

JarierP10+21.9 Elo
PryceDNF−24.2 Elo

Non-finish recorded; no finishing gap comparison.

Wolf

BinderDNF+28.6 Elo
MerzarioDNF+8.1 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 →
26
Result Entries
Avg Elo
Highest Elo (Hunt)
15
Non-finishes

Race

Qualifying

# Driver Grid +/- Points Season Pts Season # Elo Change Elo
P1 🇺🇸 M.Andretti 1 +9 22 P6 +83.2 2,252
P2 🇫🇷 P.Depailler 13 +11 +6 39 P4 +71.7 2,259
P3 🇬🇧 J.Hunt 2 -1 +4 69 P1 +21.2 2,427
P4 🇦🇺 A.Jones 20 +16 +3 7 P15 +52.5 2,261
P5 🇨🇭 C.Regazzoni 7 +2 +2 31 P5 +16.7 2,365
P6 🇸🇪 G.Nilsson 16 +10 +1 11 P10 +66.0 2,153
P7 🇫🇷 J.Laffite 11 +4 0 20 P8 +47.0 2,185
P8 🇦🇹 H.Ertl 22 +14 0 0 P21 +61.8 2,103
P9 🇯🇵 N.Takahara 24 +15 0 0 P27 +63.5 2,063
P10 🇫🇷 J.Jarier 15 +5 0 0 P22 +21.9 2,175
P11 🇯🇵 M.Hasemi 10 -1 0 0 P34 +49.1 2,049
DNF 🇿🇦 J.Scheckter 5 0 49 P3 -44.8 2,369
DNF 🇦🇹 H.Binder 25 0 0 P41 +28.6 2,057
DNF 🇬🇧 T.Pryce 14 0 10 P12 -24.2 2,206
DNF 🇮🇹 V.Brambilla 8 0 1 P19 -12.3 2,133
DNF 🇩🇪 H.Stuck 18 0 8 P13 -0.3 2,061
DNF 🇩🇪 J.Mass 12 0 19 P9 -55.4 2,219
DNF 🇬🇧 J.Watson 4 0 20 P7 -65.1 2,222
DNF 🇯🇵 K.Hoshino 21 0 0 P43 -8.5 1,991
DNF 🇮🇹 A.Merzario 19 0 0 P26 +8.1 1,879
DNS 🇧🇷 E.Fittipaldi 23 0 3 P17 -46.2 2,059
DNS 🇧🇷 C.Pace 6 0 7 P14 -61.1 2,078
DNS 🇦🇹 N.Lauda 3 0 68 P2 -120.1 2,269
DNS 🇦🇺 L.Perkins 17 0 0 P24 -39.9 1,938
DNF 🇸🇪 R.Peterson 9 0 10 P11 -84.1 2,061
DNQ 🇬🇧 T.Trimmer 0 0 0 P47 -29.2 1,802

Qualifying results are not available for this race.

Elo Changes