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Formula One: 2017 overtake total down drastically from 2016

By Asher Fair

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - OCTOBER 29: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Red Bull Racing Red Bull-TAG Heuer RB13 TAG Heuer, Sebastian Vettel of Germany driving the (5) Scuderia Ferrari SF70H and Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes F1 WO8 battle for position into turn one at the start during the Formula One Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 29, 2017 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - OCTOBER 29: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Red Bull Racing Red Bull-TAG Heuer RB13 TAG Heuer, Sebastian Vettel of Germany driving the (5) Scuderia Ferrari SF70H and Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes F1 WO8 battle for position into turn one at the start during the Formula One Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 29, 2017 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /
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The total number of overtakes that took place in the 2017 Formula One season was just over half of what it was in the 2016 season.

According to an ESPN article that cites data released by Pirelli, the tire supplier for all 10 Formula One teams, the total number of overtakes that took place in the 2017 season was extremely lower than the total number of overtakes that took place in the 2016 season, as there was a huge reduction in that statistical category.

Over the course of the 2017 season, 20 races were held, and a total of 435 overtakes took place in those 20 races, meaning an average of 21.75 overtakes took place per race. Meanwhile, over the course of the 2016 season, 21 races were held, and a total of 866 overtakes took place in those races, meaning an average of 41.24 overtakes took place per race.

Here is how Pirelli classifies what it means to overtake, according to ESPN.

"“One that takes place during complete flying laps (so not on the opening lap) and is then maintained all the way to the lap’s finish line. Position changes due to major mechanical problems or lapping/unlapping are not counted.”"

So essentially the number of overtakes that took place in the 2016 season was nearly twice as high as the number of overtakes that took place this past season, meaning that in the span of a year, the overtake total in a full Formula One season was nearly halved.

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This alarming statistic does not bode well for the sport moving forward, especially since the overtake total was the lowest in the DRS (drag reduction system) era, which began back in 2011 and is intended to add overtaking down long straightaways.

Plus, with the emphasis on increasing corner speeds, which worked in that lap times were much quicker in 2017 than they were in 2016, cars became more challenging to pass, as drivers struggled to follow each other on the track, as “turbulent air coming off the car in front reduces the effectiveness of the aero package of the car behind,” reports ESPN’s Laurence Edmondson.

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Will the number of overtakes continues to decrease in the 2018 Formula One season, or will that total climb back up next year? The season, which is set to consist of 21 races, a total that is one higher than this past season’s total, begins on Sunday, March 25th with the Australian Grand Prix.

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