What did we expect after qualifying—and who beat it?
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.
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 594 earlier finishes across 35 races, 2005–2015. No results from this race enter its expectation.
19/20 entrants have an estimate. Missing Elo or qualifying stays visible below; a grid position is not used as a qualifying result.
Expected P10.8 Finished P6
Expected P9.2 Finished P5
Expected P9.4 Finished P7
Expected P6.4 Finished P13
Expected P11.2 Finished P16
Expected P11.0 Finished P15
17/20 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.
| Driver | Pre-race Elo | Qualifying | Expected | Result | P1 ← position → P20 | vs expected | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L. HamiltonMercedes | #12616 | P1 | P2.1P1–P6 | P1 | +1.1places | In range | |
| N. RosbergMercedes | #22544 | P2 | P2.8P1–P7 | P2 | +0.8places | In range | |
| V. BottasWilliams | #62321 | P4 | P4.8P1–P9 | P3 | +1.8places | In range | |
| K. RäikkönenFerrari | #52350 | P3 | P4.1P1–P8 | P4 | +0.1places | In range | |
| S. VettelFerrari | #32493 | P16 Grid P18 | P9.2P5–P13 | P5 | +4.2places | In range | |
| F. MassaWilliams | #72308 | P17 Grid P15 | P10.8P7–P15 | P6 | +4.8places | Above range | |
| P. MaldonadoLotus F1 | #201903 | P6 | P9.4P5–P14 | P7 | +2.4places | In range | |
| N. HülkenbergForce India | #132112 | P7 | P8.0P4–P12 | P8 | 0.0places | In range | |
| D. KvyatRed Bull | #112130 | P8 | P7.9P4–P12 | P9 | −1.1places | In range | |
| R. GrosjeanLotus F1 | #92136 | P5 | P6.0P2–P10 | P10 | −4.0places | In range | |
| S. PérezForce India | #82186 | P10 | P7.9P4–P12 | P11 | −3.1places | In range | |
| C. SainzToro Rosso | #152084 | P11 | P10.3P6–P14 | P12 | −1.7places | In range | |
| D. RicciardoRed Bull | #42360 | P9 | P6.4P2–P11 | P13 | −6.6places | Below range | |
| M. EricssonSauber | #171985 | P13 Grid P12 | P11.7P8–P16 | P14 | −2.3places | In range | |
| M. VerstappenToro Rosso | #161995 | P12 Grid P19 | P11.0P7–P15 | P15 | −4.0places | In range | |
| F. NasrSauber | #122128 | P15 Grid P14 | P11.2P7–P15 | P16 | −4.8places | Below range | |
| W. StevensManor Marussia | #191927 | P19 Grid P17 | P14.9P11–P19 | P17 | −2.1places | In range | |
| R. MerhiManor Marussia | #181945 | P18 Grid P16 | P14.2P10–P18 | DNFRetired | — | Not assessedDNF: Retired | |
| J. ButtonMcLaren | #102131 | — | —No error range | DNFRetired | — | Not assessedQualifying unavailable | |
| F. AlonsoMcLaren | #142084 | P14 Grid P13 | P11.3P7–P15 | DNFEngine | — | Not assessedDNF: Engine |
Average absolute error on 594 classified finishes in 35 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 6. 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.
1 place apart at the finish.
Q3 · Hamilton 0.309s faster
3 places apart at the finish.
Q1 · Bottas 1.334s faster
1 place apart at the finish.
Q1 · Räikkönen 1.085s faster
3 places apart at the finish.
Q3 · Grosjean 0.135s faster
3 places apart at the finish.
Q3 · Hülkenberg 0.724s faster
4 places apart at the finish.
Q3 · Kvyat 0.035s faster
3 places apart at the finish.
Q2 · Sainz 0.203s faster
2 places apart at the finish.
Q2 · Ericsson 0.358s faster
Non-finish recorded; no finishing gap comparison.
Q1 · Merhi 0.024s faster
Non-finish recorded; no finishing gap comparison.
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 →| # | Driver | Grid | +/- | Points | Season Pts | Season # | Elo Change | Elo | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | 🇬🇧 |
|
L.Hamilton | 1 | — | +25 | 151 | P1 | +13.5 | 2,630 |
| P2 | 🇩🇪 |
|
N.Rosberg | 2 | — | +18 | 134 | P2 | +12.4 | 2,556 |
| P3 | 🇫🇮 |
|
V.Bottas | 4 | +1 | +15 | 57 | P5 | +30.8 | 2,352 |
| P4 | 🇫🇮 |
|
K.Räikkönen | 3 | -1 | +12 | 72 | P4 | +19.9 | 2,370 |
| P5 | 🇩🇪 |
|
S.Vettel | 18 | +13 | +10 | 108 | P3 | -3.6 | 2,489 |
| P6 | 🇧🇷 |
|
F.Massa | 15 | +9 | +8 | 47 | P6 | +11.8 | 2,320 |
| P7 | 🇻🇪 | Lotus F1 | P.Maldonado | 6 | -1 | +6 | 6 | P15 | +63.9 | 1,967 |
| P8 | 🇩🇪 | Force India | N.Hülkenberg | 7 | -1 | +4 | 10 | P12 | +27.6 | 2,139 |
| P9 | 🇷🇺 |
|
D.Kvyat | 8 | -1 | +2 | 19 | P8 | +17.9 | 2,147 |
| P10 | 🇫🇷 | Lotus F1 | R.Grosjean | 5 | -5 | +1 | 17 | P9 | +9.9 | 2,146 |
| P11 | 🇲🇽 | Force India | S.Pérez | 10 | -1 | 0 | 11 | P11 | -4.9 | 2,182 |
| P12 | 🇪🇸 | Toro Rosso | C.Sainz | 11 | -1 | 0 | 9 | P13 | +4.0 | 2,088 |
| P13 | 🇦🇺 |
|
D.Ricciardo | 9 | -4 | 0 | 35 | P7 | -44.0 | 2,316 |
| P14 | 🇸🇪 |
|
M.Ericsson | 12 | -2 | 0 | 5 | P16 | +4.7 | 1,990 |
| P15 | 🇳🇱 | Toro Rosso | M.Verstappen | 19 | +4 | 0 | 6 | P14 | -3.6 | 1,991 |
| P16 | 🇧🇷 |
|
F.Nasr | 14 | -2 | 0 | 16 | P10 | -30.6 | 2,097 |
| P17 | 🇬🇧 | Manor Marussia | W.Stevens | 17 | — | 0 | 0 | P20 | -8.5 | 1,918 |
| DNF | 🇪🇸 | Manor Marussia | R.Merhi | 16 | 0 | 0 | P19 | -17.8 | 1,928 | |
| DNF | 🇬🇧 |
|
J.Button | 20 | 0 | 4 | P17 | -51.8 | 2,079 | |
| DNF | 🇪🇸 |
|
F.Alonso | 13 | 0 | 0 | P18 | -51.6 | 2,033 |