Top Speeds #3 - Shanghai

I posted these comparisons from 2006 to 2008 to illustrate changes in top
speeds as measured through the speed traps.

The first table compares the 2008 team/driver combination with the equivalent 2009
team/driver - the same driver if possible, otherwise the 2008 driver is compared to
his 2009 replacement. This comparison is intended as a team comparison, but the first
(driver) table is also of some interest - but should be read with care.

Notes

Honda have been renamed Brawn-Mercedes and Force India have switched from
Ferrari to Mercedes engines.

'S#' Session in which the top speed was recorded (P1/P2/P3/Q/R)
'Diff' difference in top speed (km/hr)
'%Dif' difference in top speed (as percentage of 2008 speed)

Chinese GP 2008/2009

2008                                    2009
Team-Engine Driver S# km/h Driver S# km/h Diff. %Dif.
========================================================================
F India-[Ferrari] Fisichella R 312.9 Fisichella P2 314.3 +1.4 +0.45
Ferrari Räikkönen P1 316.4 Räikkönen P2 317.3 +0.9 +0.28
Red Bull-Renault  Coulthard   R  314.2  Vettel      P2 313.5  -0.7 -0.22
F India-[Ferrari] Sutil R 316.5 Sutil P2 315.1 -1.4 -0.44
Ferrari Massa R 316.3 Massa P2 314.6 -1.7 -0.54
Red Bull-Renault Webber R 314.6 Webber P2 312.3 -2.3 -0.73
T Rosso-Ferrari Bourdais R 316.7 Bourdais P2 314.3 -2.4 -0.76
Toyota Trulli P3 310.0 Trulli P2 307.2 -2.8 -0.90
[Honda] Button R 313.1 Button P2 309.8 -3.3 -1.05
[Honda] Barrichello R 313.0 Barrichello P2 309.2 -3.8 -1.21
Toyota Glock R 310.9 Glock P2 307.1 -3.8 -1.22
Renault Piquet R 313.3 Piquet P2 308.2 -5.1 -1.63
T Rosso-Ferrari Vettel P3 316.6 Buemi P2 311.3 -5.3 -1.67
Renault Alonso P1 313.6 Alonso P1 308.2 -5.4 -1.72
Williams-Toyota Nakajima R 312.9 Nakajima P2 307.2 -5.7 -1.82
Williams-Toyota Rosberg R 313.3 Rosberg P2 307.5 -5.8 -1.85
BMW Sauber-BMW Heidfeld R 316.0 Heidfeld P2 309.8 -6.2 -1.96
McLaren-Mercedes Hamilton R 315.9 Hamilton P2 309.0 -6.9 -2.18
BMW Sauber-BMW Kubica R 316.0 Kubica P2 308.3 -7.7 -2.44
McLaren-Mercedes Kovalainen R 318.6 Kovalainen P2 308.6 -10.0 -3.14

Only two drivers improved while 18 did not. All of the 2009 top speeds were
set on Friday.


The second table compares the top speed achieved by each team (IE the top
speed of both drivers), and as such is a better comparison.

2008                                    2009
Team-Engine Driver S# km/h Driver S# km/h Diff. %Diff.
========================================================================
Ferrari Räikkönen P1 316.4 Räikkönen P2 317.3 +0.9 +0.28
Red Bull-Renault  Webber      R  314.6  Vettel      P2 313.5  -1.1 -0.35
F India-[Ferrari] Sutil R 316.5 Sutil P2 315.1 -1.4 -0.44
T Rosso-Ferrari Bourdais R 316.7 Bourdais P2 314.3 -2.4 -0.76
[Honda] Button R 313.1 Button P2 309.8 -3.3 -1.05
Toyota Glock R 310.9 Trulli P2 307.2 -3.7 -1.19
Renault Alonso P1 313.6 Alonso P1 308.2 -5.4 -1.72
Williams-Toyota Rosberg R 313.3 Rosberg P2 307.5 -5.8 -1.85
BMW Sauber-BMW Heidfeld R 316.0 Heidfeld P2 309.8 -6.2 -1.96
McLaren-Mercedes Kovalainen R 318.6 Hamilton P2 309.0 -9.6 -3.01

All data from http://www.formula1.com except the race speed trap data which is
from http://www.fia.com.
 
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