FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[mnmracer]

What a year it's been again, in many aspects, and overtaking was no different. Whether it was Massa's crazy move on Senna in Singapore, Vettel's amazing comeback in Abu Dhabi, or the crazy circumstances that saw all drivers bar the HRTs overtake in Brazil, there was plenty of on-track action to be had in 2012.

Although the introduction of DRS in 2011 had a big impact -it saw more than tripple the amount of overtakes- something has to be said for the competitiveness of the field as well. With the cars being so equal, 2010 (remember, pre-DRS) already saw the most amount of overtakes (average per GP) since 1991. With 1135 on-track overtakes in 2012, this season was just 17 overtakes off the 2011-record.

And just when you thought it would be almost impossible to see as much action as we've seen in Turkey (125 overtakes) and Canada (126) last year, this season came to a bang with an unprecedented 144 overtakes in just 63 racing laps (8 behind the safety car).

Top overtakers in 2012
I've taken the 10 drivers from the top 5 teams, and categorized the types of overtakes, from 'all overtakes' to 'overtakes on top cars only with equal tires'. At the end of this article, you can see the numbers per race.

The overtaking figures -courtesy of Clip The Apex- for each race (across all data sets) do not include:

• Position changes on the first lap of the race
  
• Position changes due to drivers lapping backmarkers
  
• Positions gained in the pits
  
• Positions gained due to drivers yielding
  
• Positions gained when a car has a serious technical problem; e.g. puncture, accident damage, etc.

All overtakes
1. Sebastian Vettel - 74 on-track overtakes
1. Mark Webber - 74
3. Felipe Massa - 65
4. Lewis Hamilton - 55
4. Romain Grosjean - 55

All overtakes, without backmarkers
Disgarding the overtakes on the teams of HRT, Marussia and Caterham
1. Sebastian Vettel - 51 on-track overtakes
2. Lewis Hamilton - 46
2. Mark Webber - 46
4. Felipe Massa - 45
5. Jenson Button - 41

All overtakes, without backmarkers, with equal tires
Disgarding the overtakes on the teams of HRT, Marussia and Caterham
Disgarding overtakes on cars with more than 5 lap older tires
1. Sebastian Vettel - 29 on-track overtakes
2. Jenson Button - 26
3. Mark Webber - 24
4. Kimi Räikkönen - 23
4. Felipe Massa - 23

All overtakes, only on 5 top teams
Counting only overtakes on the teams of Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Lotus and Mercedes
1. Sebastian Vettel - 28 on-track overtakes
2. Lewis Hamilton - 25
3. Jenson Button - 22
4. Kimi Räikkönen - 21
5. Felipe Massa - 16

All overtakes, only on 5 top teams, with equal tires
Counting only overtakes on the teams of Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Lotus and Mercedes
Disgarding overtakes on cars with more than 5 lap older tires
1. Sebastian Vettel - 17 on-track overtakes
2. Kimi Räikkönen - 16
3. Jenson Button - 14
4. Lewis Hamilton - 13
5. Felipe Massa - 12

Overview


- 2012 overtakes races 1 to 5
- 2012 overtakes races 6 to 10
- 2012 overtakes races 11 to 15
- 2012 overtakes races 16 to 20

[FerrariFan63]

Does anyone remember the frequent criticism of Vettel from some time ago, claiming that he couldn't overtake?

[vlad]

Does anyone remember the frequent criticism of Vettel from some time ago, claiming that he couldn't overtake?

People can be sooooo WRONG!

Amazing stats for an amazing year!

[geetface9]

Does anyone remember the frequent criticism of Vettel from some time ago, claiming that he couldn't overtake?

I do because I was spouting that argument myself! He has developed into quite the capable overtaker for sure. still hate the guy

[darwin dali]

Does anyone remember the frequent criticism of Vettel from some time ago, claiming that he couldn't overtake?

I do because I was spouting that argument myself! He has developed into quite the capable overtaker for sure. still hate the guy

First baby steps for ya to eventually get all lovey-dovey with SV

[What's Burning?]

What a year it's been again, in many aspects, and overtaking was no different. Whether it was Massa's crazy move on Senna in Singapore, Vettel's amazing comeback in Abu Dhabi, or the crazy circumstances that saw all drivers bar the HRTs overtake in Brazil, there was plenty of on-track action to be had in 2012.

Although the introduction of DRS in 2011 had a big impact -it saw more than tripple the amount of overtakes- something has to be said for the competitiveness of the field as well. With the cars being so equal, 2010 (remember, pre-DRS) already saw the most amount of overtakes (average per GP) since 1991. With 1135 on-track overtakes in 2012, this season was just 17 overtakes off the 2011-record.

And just when you thought it would be almost impossible to see as much action as we've seen in Turkey (125 overtakes) and Canada (126) last year, this season came to a bang with an unprecedented 144 overtakes in just 63 racing laps (8 behind the safety car).

Top overtakers in 2012
I've taken the 10 drivers from the top 5 teams, and categorized the types of overtakes, from 'all overtakes' to 'overtakes on top cars only with equal tires'. At the end of this article, you can see the numbers per race.

I'm surprised Hamilton did as well as he did since he'd be at a disadvantage in your formula having had the most DNF's and unfinished races.

I'd be curious if you did a percentage of laps completed against the actual number of overtakes to get an overtakes per lap value.

[myownalias]

Does anyone remember the frequent criticism of Vettel from some time ago, claiming that he couldn't overtake?

Before this year he didn't have to do too much overtaking; starting from the front every race in 2011 and 2010; he had his fair share if coming togethers.

[LRW]

How about doing a list discounting the number of overtakes from a car that had its setup totally changed, post qualifying, to aid overtaking.....?

[andrew]

Does anyone remember the frequent criticism of Vettel from some time ago, claiming that he couldn't overtake?

I do because I was spouting that argument myself! He has developed into quite the capable overtaker for sure. still hate the guy

First baby steps for ya to eventually get all lovey-dovey with SV

Look at Schumahcer. In his first career, so many pundits and fans bashed him just 'cos he won a lot and extremely good at what he did. Now after his 2nd retirement they all love him! I reckon Vettel will be the same. 15 years once he's retired from F1 everyone will love him.

[FerrariFan63]

Before this year he didn't have to do too much overtaking; starting from the front every race in 2011 and 2010; he had his fair share if coming togethers.

As did many other drivers. And I do remember him passing in 2011 and 2010 when he needed to.

I do think the "Vettel can't pass" claims were a myth, even in past years in F1.

[Hammer278]

How about doing a list discounting the number of overtakes from a car that had its setup totally changed, post qualifying, to aid overtaking.....?

[mnmracer]

How about doing a list discounting the number of overtakes from a car that had its setup totally changed, post qualifying, to aid overtaking.....?

How about we also take out overtakes from a car that by default is set-up to aid overtaking
If you take out Abu Dhabi, Vettel is still second in the top-cars-only category. That's why the indivudual race numbers are up there for all to see.

[What's Burning?]

How about doing a list discounting the number of overtakes from a car that had its setup totally changed, post qualifying, to aid overtaking.....?

How about we also take out overtakes from a car that by default is set-up to aid overtaking
If you take out Abu Dhabi, Vettel is still second in the top-cars-only category. That's why the indivudual race numbers are up there for all to see.

Dammit mnmracer, your post just gave me a heart attack... I thought you were back with the percentage of overtakes per completed lap!

[mnmracer]

How about doing a list discounting the number of overtakes from a car that had its setup totally changed, post qualifying, to aid overtaking.....?

How about we also take out overtakes from a car that by default is set-up to aid overtaking
If you take out Abu Dhabi, Vettel is still second in the top-cars-only category. That's why the indivudual race numbers are up there for all to see.

Dammit mnmracer, your post just gave me a heart attack... I thought you were back with the percentage of overtakes per completed lap!

Does it looks like I have such a life-less life?
Overtakes per completed lap is useless unless you ALSO consider how many of those laps were in the lead (i.e. can not overtake there).
I might make a more specified analysis a little later.

[FerrariFan63]

How about simply counting the <something> overtakes, rather than only counting the overtakes where the driver didn't have a pickled gherkin stuck up his <something>?