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Performance Analysis · Information Visualization

Formula 1 : 2023 to 2024 Season Analysis

Nine visualizations unpacking how F1 balances a growing global calendar with consistent race regulations — revealing that while circuits vary wildly, the sport's 305 km rule holds almost everywhere except Monaco.

Organisation Performance Circuit Characteristics Global Strategy Race Dynamics Lap Records


Formula 1 (F1) represents the pinnacle of motorsport, combining cutting-edge technology, extraordinary human skill, and complex logistics in a global championship. The sport has evolved significantly since its inception in 1950, with changes in regulations, technology, and race locations continuously reshaping the competitive landscape. The 2023 and 2024 seasons present an interesting comparative case study, as F1 continues to expand its global footprint while balancing traditional European circuits with newer venues.

This analysis explores three key aspects of Formula 1's evolution across the 2023-2024 seasons:​

    • Circuit characteristics: Physical track attributes including length, turns, and DRS zones that define the racing experience
    • Temporal organization: Race calendar evolution and scheduling strategy across seasons
    • Historical context: Track evolution through lap record analysis and circuit introduction timeline
    • Global distribution: Geographic spread and race distance standardization patterns



Materials & Methodology

Data Source
The primary dataset used in this analysis contains detailed information about Formula 1 race calendars for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The dataset includes variables such as:
  • Race dates and locations
  • Circuit specifications (length, number of turns, DRS zones)
  • Historical data (first GP year, lap records)
  • Race parameters (number of laps, race distance)

​Software and Tools
The analysis was conducted using R (version 4.2.0) with the following packages:
  • ggplot2 (for visualization)
  • dplyr and tidyr (for data manipulation)
  • lubridate (for date handling)
  • scales and RColorBrewer (for visual aesthetics)

​Data Preparation
The raw data required several preprocessing steps before visualization:
  1. Converting race dates to proper Date format
  2. Extracting the year from race dates
  3. Converting character columns to factors for better visualization
  4. Creating shortened Grand Prix names for clearer displays
  5. Calculating derived variables (such as years since lap record was set)

​Visualization Approach
Nine complementary visualization techniques were selected based on their ability to reveal different dimensions of the data. A custom theme (theme_f1) was created for visual consistency across all plots, featuring minimal design with optimized font sizes for readability. The visualizations were designed to provide comparative insights between seasons, correlative relationships between variables, and historical context for the sport's evolution.


Visualizations & Interpretations

1. Circuit Length Comparison

Visualization Type: Horizontal bar chart with seasonal comparison

This visualization displays all F1 circuits ordered by length, with side-by-side bars comparing the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The horizontal orientation allows for easy reading of circuit names, while the color-coded bars (using the Set1 palette) distinguish between seasons.





Key Findings:

  • Circuit length varies significantly across the calendar, ranging from street circuits of approximately 3-4 km to longer permanent tracks exceeding 7 km
  • The comparison reveals which circuits appear in both seasons versus those unique to one year, indicating calendar stability or changes
  • Most circuits maintain consistent lengths between seasons, as track layouts rarely change year-to-year




2. Race Calendar Timeline

Visualization Type: Connected scatter plot with temporal sequence

The timeline visualization maps each Grand Prix against its race date, with points connected by lines to show the seasonal progression. Color coding (red for 2023, blue for 2024) enables direct comparison of how race schedules differ between years.





Key Findings:

  • Calendar compression: The 2024 season shows expanded temporal boundaries, accommodating 24 races compared to 23 in 2023, representing F1's continued commercial expansion
  • Regional clustering: The 2024 calendar demonstrates improved geographic grouping, with races in similar regions scheduled consecutively to reduce travel carbon footprint
  • Schedule reordering: Several races shifted significantly in the calendar order between seasons, indicating F1's willingness to experiment with traditional scheduling
  • Strategic gaps: The 2024 calendar includes more deliberate spacing between certain race weekends, potentially allowing teams more development time




3. Circuit Length vs Number of Laps

Visualization Type: Labeled scatter plot with country-based color coding

This scatter plot explores the inverse relationship between circuit length and the number of laps required to complete a Grand Prix. Each point represents a unique circuit, colored by host country using a viridis palette, with circuit names labeled for identification.





Key Findings:

  • Clear inverse correlation: Shorter circuits require more laps to reach the mandated race distance (approximately 305 km), while longer circuits need fewer laps
  • Monaco effect: The Monaco street circuit, being among the shortest tracks, requires the highest number of laps
  • This relationship is fundamental to F1 regulations, which specify a target race distance rather than a fixed lap count
  • Country clustering reveals whether certain regions favor particular circuit length profiles




4. DRS Zones Analysis

Visualization Type: Grouped bar chart showing frequency distribution

The DRS (Drag Reduction System) zones analysis aggregates circuits by the number of DRS zones they feature, comparing the distribution between 2023 and 2024 seasons. DRS zones are designated straight sections where drivers can open a rear wing element to reduce drag and facilitate overtaking.





Key Findings:

  • Most circuits feature 2-3 DRS zones, representing F1's standard approach to promoting overtaking opportunities
  • The distribution between seasons reveals whether F1 has adjusted DRS strategy, potentially adding zones to circuits where overtaking proved difficult
  • Street circuits may have different DRS patterns compared to permanent race tracks due to layout constraints
  • Changes in DRS zone count between seasons indicate active circuit management to improve race spectacle




5. Age of Lap Records by Circuit

Visualization Type: Horizontal bar chart with record holder identification

This visualization calculates how many years have elapsed since each circuit's lap record was set, ordering circuits by record age. The bars are colored by the driver who holds each record, providing insight into dominant performers and track evolution.





Key Findings:

  • Record freshness varies dramatically: some circuits have recent records (set within the last few years) while others have decade-old records
  • Older records often indicate circuits that have undergone layout modifications, safety improvements, or surface changes that prevent modern cars from matching historical times
  • Recent records suggest circuits where current-generation cars have reached peak performance, or tracks that were recently introduced or modified
  • The record holder distribution reveals which drivers have achieved exceptional single-lap performances across different venues



6. Turn Count vs Circuit Length Analysis

Visualization Type: Multi-dimensional scatter plot with trend line

This scatter plot examines the relationship between circuit length and turn count, with point size representing total race distance and color indicating host country. A linear regression trend line reveals the overall correlation pattern.







Key Findings:

  • Positive correlation: Longer circuits generally feature more turns, as expected from basic geometric principles
  • Turn density variation: The scatter around the trend line reveals that some circuits pack many turns into a short layout (technical tracks like Monaco), while others have longer straights between fewer corners
  • Circuit character: Points far from the trend line represent unique circuit designs - those below the line favor high-speed sections (like Monza), while those above emphasize technical complexity
  • Race distance consistency: Point sizes appear relatively uniform, confirming F1's regulatory requirement for approximately 305 km races




7. Distribution of Circuits by Decade of Introduction

Visualization Type: Decade-based histogram with value labels

This histogram groups circuits by the decade in which they first hosted a Formula 1 Grand Prix, revealing the sport's historical expansion patterns. The visualization uses a warm color palette (YlOrRd) and includes count labels for precise reading.







Key Findings:

  • Historical concentration: Many current circuits date from F1's early decades (1950s-1970s), representing traditional European venues that form the sport's heritage
  • Modern expansion: Recent decades show the addition of new venues, particularly in the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas, reflecting F1's globalization strategy
  • Circuit longevity: The presence of venues from multiple decades indicates F1's balance between tradition and innovation
  • Gaps in the timeline may indicate periods of F1 consolidation versus expansion in its circuit portfolio




8. Distribution of Race Distances

Visualization Type: Overlapping density plot for seasonal comparison

This density plot displays the distribution of total race distances across all circuits, with separate curves for 2023 and 2024 seasons overlaid with transparency to enable comparison. The smooth curves reveal the concentration and spread of race distance values.





Key Findings:

  • Regulatory clustering: Both seasons show strong concentration around the mandated 305 km race distance, demonstrating consistent adherence to F1 regulations
  • Monaco exception: A secondary peak at lower distances represents the Monaco Grand Prix, which uniquely runs shorter at approximately 260 km due to its slow average speeds and the need to complete the race within the two-hour time limit
  • Seasonal consistency: The high degree of overlap between 2023 and 2024 distributions indicates stable race distance policies across seasons
  • The narrow distribution confirms F1's successful standardization of race length for competitive fairness




9. Number of Grand Prix by Country

Visualization Type: Grouped horizontal bar chart

This visualization aggregates races by host country, showing side-by-side comparisons between 2023 and 2024 seasons. Countries are ordered by total race count to highlight F1's geographic distribution priorities.





Key Findings:

  • Multiple-race markets: Countries hosting more than one Grand Prix per season represent F1's most valuable markets, often including both a traditional circuit and a newer street circuit
  • Geographic concentration: The distribution reveals F1's continued European base while expanding into new markets
  • Calendar changes: Differences between seasons show which countries gained or lost race slots, indicating shifting commercial priorities or contractual changes
  • The visualization demonstrates F1's strategy of maintaining presence in traditional markets while pursuing global expansion


Github



Conclusion


This comprehensive analysis of Formula 1's 2023 and 2024 seasons reveals a sport in dynamic transition, balancing tradition with innovation across multiple dimensions. The nine visualizations collectively demonstrate:

  • Strategic calendar evolution: F1 continues expanding its calendar while improving regional clustering to address sustainability concerns, with 24 races in 2024 representing the sport's largest season to date
  • Regulatory consistency: Despite varying circuit characteristics, F1 maintains strict adherence to race distance regulations (approximately 305 km), with the notable exception of Monaco
  • Circuit diversity: The relationship between circuit length, turn count, and DRS zones illustrates F1's spectrum from high-speed power tracks to technical, corner-intensive circuits, each presenting unique challenges
  • Global expansion: The geographic distribution and decade analysis show F1's transformation from a primarily European championship to a global phenomenon, particularly with circuit introductions in recent decades
  • Performance evolution: The lap record age analysis indicates ongoing circuit evolution and car development, with some tracks seeing continuous performance improvements while others retain decades-old records due to layout modifications

These findings underscore Formula 1's complex optimization problem: expanding commercially while maintaining competitive integrity, honoring historical venues while embracing new markets, and promoting exciting racing through circuit design and regulation. The 2023-2024 comparison suggests F1 Leadership is actively managing these tensions through careful calendar curation, circuit selection, and race format standardization.

Future analyses could extend this work by incorporating driver and team performance data, examining the relationship between circuit characteristics and race outcomes, or tracking how specific circuits evolve over longer time periods beyond these two seasons.


Background Reading


  • FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile). Formula One Technical Regulations. https://www.fia.com
  • Jenkins, M., Pasternak, K., & West, R. (2016). Performance at the Limit: Business Lessons from Formula 1 Motor Racing. Cambridge University Press.
  • Formula 1 Official Website. Race Calendar & Circuit Information, 2023–2024. https://www.formula1.com