The grand prix vehicles of today are among the most sophisticated ever. However, that does not imply that they are the fastest Formula One vehicles ever made.
Teams competing in Formula 1 never give up on improving their performance. However, that does not imply that their most recent vehicles are the quickest F1 cars ever made.
In actuality, the constant pursuit of faster lap times necessitates regulation modifications that frequently pin back the vehicles, limiting their ability to produce downforce and engine power. Therefore, even though the cars of today may reach speeds of over 230 mph, they are currently not as fast as the mind-bending vehicles that existed prior to the significant regulatory changes in 2022 because of their heavier chassis and ground effect designs.
At the 2020 Italian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton broke the lap record by driving his Mercedes W11 to pole position with an average speed of 264.362 km/h (164.267 mph). Even with the benefits of slipstreaming and DRS, Oscar Piastri’s McLaren MCL60, the fastest car on track three years later, was about 20 km/h slower in race trim.
Thus, only during a grand prix weekend, Hamilton’s Mercedes is currently the quickest Formula One vehicle ever. Continue reading to find out why.
The record for the fastest average speed over a lap in Formula One history was set by Kimi Räikkönen two years prior, during the same session with the Ferrari SF71H. This record was surpassed by Hamilton’s 2020 pole run.
The Finn’s personal best eclipsed a legendary milestone set by Juan Pablo Montoya during the 2004 Monza qualifying session. Before new, wider vehicles were on the scene, his pole lap in the BMW FW26, which had an average speed of 259.83 km/h (161.451 mph), held the record for the fastest single lap.
Hamilton’s record lap was made possible by both the restrictions of the period, like as the set requirements for slick tires, plus better technology and a deeper grasp of aerodynamics. Tires with grooves were used on older cars from the late 1990s to the late 2000s to lower cornering speeds and decrease grip. Nevertheless, because of their potent V10 engines, certain drivers continue to hold the record for the fastest lap at circuits that are currently in competition.
For instance, Rubens Barrichello owns the record for the fastest lap in the Italian Grand Prix, which he did in 2004 while driving the all-conquering Ferrari F2004, while Pedro de la Rosa retains the record from the 2005 race in Bahrain in his McLaren MP4-20.
Past Formula One average lap times records
Driver Team Car Year Speed
Keke RosbergWilliams FW10 160.94 mph [259.01 km/h]1985
BMW FW26 Juan Pablo Montoya 259.83 km/h (161.451 mph)2004
163.785 mph (Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari SF17H) at 263.586 km/h2018 Mercedes W11 Lewis Hamilton 264.362 km/h
(164.267 mph)2020* Present-day documentation
What was the quickest F1 era?
Sixteen of the twenty-four circuits on the current Formula One schedule feature lap records held by Formula One cars built between 2018 and 2021. The remaining nine are split between the newest cars, which have six lap records, and the vehicles made before 2005, which have three lap records.
It makes sense considering that in an effort to make the grand prix more thrilling, new regulations in 2018 defied convention and increased the top speed of the cars. When the current rules were implemented in 2022 to allow for closer racing—which also caused the vehicles to slow down—that notion was turned on its head.
Teams are improving, but they haven’t yet replaced their previous level of performance: At several tracks, 2023 cars were a second faster per lap than the previous year and set some records.
Most venues still favor the cars from the previous generation, although several older models still hold records because of their potent V10 engines and reduced downforce, which allowed for quicker top speeds.
lap times for each F1 track in 2024
Grand Prix Circuit: Driver’s lap time
Bahrain International Circuit Bahrain Grand Prix 1:31.447Pedro Rosa (2005a)
Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, 1:30.734Lewis Hamilton (2020)
Melbourne, Australia’s Grand Prix 1:20.235Perez Sergio (2023)
Subaru Japanese Grand Prix 1:30.9832020’s Lewis Hamilton
Shanghai, China’s Grand Prix 1:32.238Schumacher, Michael (2004)
Miami International Autodrome, Miami Grand Prix 1:29.708Max Verstappen (2023): 1:15.484 San Marino Grand
Prix in Imola2020’s Lewis Hamilton
Monaco Grand Prix 1:12.909 Monte CarloLewis Hamilton (2020)
Gilles Villeneuve Circuit, Canada Grand Prix 1:13.078In 2019, Valtteri Bottas
Grand Prix of Spain, Barcelona 1:16.330Verstappen Max (2023)
Red Bull Ring, Austrian Grand Prix, 1:105,619Carlos Sainz (2020)
Silverstone, British Grand Prix 1:27.0972020’s Max Verstappen
Hungaroring 1:16.627 Hungarian Grand Prix2020’s Lewis Hamilton
Baku City Street Circuit Azerbaijan Grand Prix 1:43.009In 2019, Charles Leclerc
Marina Bay Singapore Grand Prix 1:41.9052018 United States Grand Prix Circuit of the Americas Kevin Magnussen
1:36.169In 2019, Charles Leclerc
Mexico City International Auto RaceMexicali, 1:12.3342023’s Lewis Hamilton
Interlagos Sao Paulo Grand Prix 1:10.5402018’s Valtteri Bottas
Grand Prix of Las Vegas, Las Vegas, 1:35.490Piastri Oscar (2023)
Losail International Circuit, Qatar Grand Prix 1:24.39Verstappen Max (2023)
Yas Marina Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 1:26.103Verstappen Max (2021)
