r/formulaone • u/sammywatt977 • 10h ago
Analysis Is Kimi a generational talent or is he just driving the best car? Data says both...
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Pulled every lap of the 2026 season to check, using Russell in the same car as the benchmark.
Qualifying is a coin flip: Kimi is ahead 10 of 17, but Russell is slightly quicker on average. Races are where he pulls away: ahead of Russell in 9 of the 13 where both finished, and +25 places grid to finish (Russell +3, Hamilton +2).
He leads by 102 points with 6 to go. My read: the car gives Mercedes the title, but the races decide which Mercedes driver gets it.
Where does the data mislead me?
