Formula 1 broadcasts show the race. Telemetry shows why a lap was fast or slow — meter by meter along the track.
This guide explains the channels on hash-racing F1 telemetry so you can read a head-to-head compare with confidence.
What you are looking at
Each chart plots a car channel against distance along the lap (meters), not time. That way two drivers stay aligned through the same corners even when one is slower.
Pick a session, two drivers, and (by default) each driver’s fastest lap. Override laps when you want a specific battle.
Speed
Speed (km/h) is the headline trace. Look for:
- Minimums in corners — who carries more speed mid-corner?
- Straight-line peaks — power unit / drag differences
- Where the lines separate — the “delta” often starts at entry or exit, not randomly mid-corner
Throttle and brake
Throttle (%) and brake tell you the driver’s inputs:
- Early throttle on exit usually means confidence (or a car that accepts torque)
- Overlap (brake still on while throttle rises) can mean rotation tricks — or a mess
- A deeper brake marker with similar mid-corner speed often means a later apex
Read them with the speed trace, not alone.
RPM and gear
RPM and gear show how the power unit is used:
- Short-shifting vs holding RPM near the limiter
- Gear choice through medium-speed corners
- Spikes that line up with traction issues (RPM rises while speed stalls)
DRS
DRS is typically open (allowed zones) or closed. On our charts you’ll see it as a step:
- Confirm both drivers had DRS available in the same zone
- A speed gap with equal DRS often points to slipstream, power, or drag instead
Using hash-racing
- Open /f1-telemetry
- Choose year → event → session
- Compare two drivers (defaults to fastest laps)
- Move across the track map or charts — the position and crosshair stay synced across lap delta and all six car channels
- Share the URL — your selection is in the query string
When live OpenF1 data is unavailable, the tool falls back to a sample Monaco session so the UI still teaches the same reading habits.
Keep exploring
Telemetry is a conversation between driver and car. Once the shapes feel familiar, re-watch a battle and ask: where did the faster car gain — entry, mid, or exit?