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Atlas F1 is going to keep an eye on the battle between team mates throughout the season by race and overall averages (again). The measurement is simple. We compare the intra-team difference in seconds on Saturday. Some may say compensation must be given in the favouritism between the number one and two seats within the team. We, on the other hand, do not grant that pardon. For better or worse, our analyses will be on the perfect world of egalitarian status in intra-team rivalry.
With 13 qualifying sessions completed for 1999, the differentials are on a roll. Let's see which drivers deserve bragging rights.
Italy Notables
- Hakkinen. Finally Mika managed to pass his teammate in the overall qualifying differential averages, although in all fairness he would have been there all along had it not been for that lottery-drawn qualifying session in France. None the less, Hakkinen managed to climb back to the lead over Coulthard - a feat by no means underestimated by us all!
- Zanardi. Did you see that? Did you see how well Alex did in qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix? He not only qualified fourth but also in the process outqualified his teammate Ralf Schumacher. And though still outclassed by Ralf in the overall averages - Zanardi is definitely making serious progress that should see all his fans rightfully optimistic.
- Wurz. Though not having the best of years, Alex Wurz managed to outqualify his teammate, Giancarlo Fisichella, for the second time this season. It doesn't help him much in the overall averages, where Fisico is the dominant of the two, but it lends hope for Wurz's future.
- Herbert and Hill. After showing some form, both Britons Johnny Herbert and Damon Hill have yet again been crushed by their teammates in qualifying, if not to mention the race. One look at both these pairs tells a sad story for the British Racing fans. Hopefully, with only three races left (maximum) in Damon Hill's career, he can at least hope that Herbert does as badly as this weekend, thus sustaining the dubious honour of heading the table of overall outqualified drivers this season.
The average gap between teammates in Italy was 0.458, compared to 0.381 secs in Belgium; Hungary's half a second; Germany's 0.588sec; 0.511sec in Austria; Britain's 0.463 seconds; France's 2.514sec; Canada's 0.588sec; Spain's 0.471sec; 0.671sec in Monaco; 0.601sec in San Marino; 0.446sec in Brazil; and 0.922sec in Australia.
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