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F1's top corners 30km/h faster in 2017, data reveals

Formula 1's fastest corners are more than 30km/h faster this season, thanks to the increase in downforce and mechanical grip from new regulations.

Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari SF70H

Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari SF70H

Alessio Morgese

Data released by F1's tyre supplier Pirelli after the Singapore GP has revealed a dramatic increase in performance at some of F1's most famous high-speed corners like Pouhon at Spa-Francorchamps and Turn 3 at Barcelona.

Silverstone's Copse remains the fastest proper corner in F1, with top speeds this year's registered at 290 km/h - which is exactly 30 km/h faster than last year.

There have been similar leaps at Barcelona's Turn 3 (36 km/h) and Turn 9 (30 km/h) and Pouhon at Spa which has jumped 36 km/h.

Pirelli cornering speeds comparison

Barcelona Turn 3

212 Km/h

248 Km/h

Barcelona Turn 9

215 Km/h

245 Km/h

Silverstone Copse

260 Km/h

290 Km/h

Spa-Francorchamps Pouhon

253 km/h

289 km/h

Different gains

The aim of the new wider and faster cars this year was to deliver laptimes that were around five seconds per laps faster than 2015 around the Barcelona circuit.

That target was delivered, and analysis of lap times shows that there has been some good leaps forward over 2016 pace at certain venues where the increase in downforce and grip has come into its own.

The biggest qualifying gain from last year was the Belgian Grand Prix where Lewis Hamilton's pole position time was 4.191 seconds quicker than Nico Rosberg managed last year.

However, if the lap time comparison is done over a kilometre length, then it is the shorter Hungary track that has improved the most - showing a 0.831 seconds leap per kilometre of circuit.

Excluding Monza which was affected by rain, the smallest gain of the season came at Bahrain - where the high drag from the 2017 cars allied to different weather conditions limited the step to just 0.724 seconds this year compared to 2016.

Qualifying fastest lap comparison:

Australia

HAMILTON

1:23.837 SS

HAMILTON

1:22.188 USN

-1.649s

-0.311

Bahrain

HAMILTON

1:29.493 SS

BOTTAS

1:28.769 SSN

-0.724s

-0,134

China

ROSBERG

1:35.402 SS

HAMILTON

1:31.678 SSN

-3.724s

-0.683

Russia

ROSBERG

1:35.337 SS

VETTEL

1:33.194 USN

-2.143s

-0.366

Spain

HAMILTON

1:22.000 S

HAMILTON

1:19.149 SN

-2.851s

-0.612

Monaco

RICCIARDO

1:13.622 US

RAIKKONEN

1:12.178 USN

-1.444s

-0.433

Canada

HAMILTON

1:12.812 US

HAMILTON

1:11.459 USN

-1.353s

-0.310

Azerbaijan

ROSBERG

1:42.520 SS

HAMILTON

1:40.593 SSN

-1.927s

-0.321

Austria

HAMILTON

1:06.228 US

BOTTAS

1:04.251 USN

-1.977s

-0.458

Great Britain

HAMILTON

1:29.243 S

HAMILTON

1:26.600 SSN

-2.643s

-0.449

Hungary

ROSBERG

1:19.965 SS

VETTEL

1:16.276 SSN

-3.689s

-0.831

Belgium

ROSBERG

1:46.744 SS

HAMILTON

1:42:553 US

-4.191s

-0.598

Italy

HAMILTON

1:21.135 SS

HAMILTON

1:34.660 W**

+13.525s (**)

+2.335 (**)

Singapore

ROSBERG

1:42.584 US

VETTEL

1:39.491

-3.093

-0.611

(**) Italian Grand Prix qualifying took place in wet conditions due to heavy rain in Monza

Faster races

In terms of the fastest race laps, there have been some even bigger gains.

The fastest race lap in Belgium was more than five seconds quicker than 2016, while done on a per kilometre basis it is Monaco that has come out on top.

Fastest laps times comparison:

Australia

RICCIARDO

1:28.997 SS

RAIKKONEN

1:26.538 S

-2.459s

-0.464

Bahrain

ROSBERG

1:34.482 S

HAMILTON

1:32.798 S

-1.684s

-0.311

China

HULKENBERG

1:39.824 SS

HAMILTON

1:35.378 S

-4.446s

-0.816

Russia

ROSBERG

1:39.094 S

RAIKKONEN

1:36.844 SS

-2.250s

-0.385

Spain

KVYAT

1:26.948 S

HAMILTON

1:23.593 S

-3.355s

-0.721

Monaco

HAMILTON

1:17.939 US

PEREZ

1:14.820 US

-3.119s

-0.935

Canada

ROSBERG

1:15.599 S

HAMILTON

1:14.551 SS

-1.048s

-0.240

Azerbaijan

 

ROSBERG

1:46.485 S

VETTEL

1:43.441 SS

-3.044s

-0.507

Austria

HAMILTON

1:08.411 S

HAMILTON

1:07.411 US

-1.000s

-0.232

Great Britain

ROSBERG

1:35.548 S

HAMILTON

1:30.621 S

-4.927s

-0.836

Hungary

RAIKKONEN

1:23.086 SS

ALONSO

1:20.182 S

-2.904s

-0.654

Belgium

HAMILTON

1:51.583 M

VETTEL

1:46.577 US

-5.006s

-0.715

Italy

ALONSO

1:25.340 SS

RICCIARDO

1:23.361 SS

-1.709s

-0.295

Singapore

RICCIARDO

1:47.187 SS

HAMILTON

1m45.008

-2.179s

-0.430

F1 drivers and teams are bracing themselves for potentially big gains at next week's Japanese Grand Prix, where the high speed nature of Suzuka could lead to a big leap in times.

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