According to experts, the “long-held belief” that the car and the team are responsible for 80 percent of race success and the driver’s skill for the remaining 20 percent – sometimes referred to as the 80-20 rule – is inaccurate.
The results were determined using statistical modeling and data from the 2012-2019 seasons.
What is the most important factor in ensuring Formula 1 success? A study of eight seasons has provided an answer.
According to them, it’s the interaction between the driver and the team.
Duane Lockerbie, the study’s lead author from the University of Lethbridge in Canada, stated that the findings are “particularly validating for drivers.”
The instructor continued: “The vehicle and team’s contributions have been grossly overestimated.
“As opposed to 80 percent, it is more like 20 percent. The input of the driver accounts for approximately 15 percent.
“The interaction between the driver and the team, which accounts for 30-40 percent, is the most significant variable.
“Random variables that occur during the race account for the remainder.
“Our findings are particularly reassuring for drivers, as they demonstrate that they do not merely operate the vehicles, but also provide valuable input and feedback on their development.
“The return on team technology is improved when drivers are more skilled, and vice versa.
“After all, F1 cars are not self-driving, and drivers cannot compete without an F1 car.
Given the critical complementarity between driver and team, the 80-20 rule grossly understates the importance of the driver.
They also compared the variation in driver skill to the amount of money a team spends on the car.
The outcome suggests that although the teams which spend more on their budgets and driver salaries will improve their rank finishes, it’s a bit more complicated than that.
Professor Stephen Easton, co-author and professor of economics at Simon Fraser University, explains, “The return to hiring more driving skill (at an assumedly higher driver salary) is positive in terms of returning better finishing positions, but it reduces the team budget.”
“The effect of increasing the team’s budget is positive for finishes but negative for the driver’s salary. Therefore, the team with the largest overall budget is most likely in the best position to win each season, as they can afford not to sacrifice car performance for a top-tier driver.
Drivers who move to teams with superior cars and team support, or are fortunate enough to begin their F1 careers with these teams, achieve superior results and possibly world championships.
Professor Rockerbie and co-author Stephen Easton analyzed the findings, which were published in the journal Applied Economics, using statistical modeling and data from the 2012-2019 seasons.
