How quick would F1 lap at Le Mans?
The Le Mans 24 Hours is underway at the 13.6km (8.4m) Circuit de la Sarthe. It’s an unusual track, dominated by the huge Mulsanne straight, and then looping back to the start/finish straight via a succession of straights and high-speed corners.
In terms of size it has no equal in Formula 1 – the next longest track (Spa-Francorchamps) is similar in character but half the length (7km).
Formula has never raced on the circuit and probably couldn’t. So how long would an F1 car take to lap it? Could it do a sub-three minute time? Let’s make an educated guess…
The leading cars in the Le Mans 24 Hours this year are Audi’s R10 and Peugeot’s 908. Both race in the Europe-wide Le Mans series and this year have already raced on three circuits that are on the F1 calendar.
By comparing their pole position times with the best times seen in F1 qualifying (which usually occur in Q2 when the cars use low fuel) we can get an idea of the approximate difference in performance between F1 and LMS cars:
| Circuit | Formula 1 | Le Mans Series | Difference |
| Spa-Francorchamps | 1′45.070 (‘07) | 1′58.069 (‘08) | +12.37% |
| Monza | 1′21.356 (‘07) | 1′31.875 (‘08) | +12.43% |
| Circuit de Catalunya | 1′20.584 (‘08) | 1′31.875 (‘08) | +14.01% |
| Le Mans | ? | 3′18.513 (‘08) | ? |
Comparing this year’s LMS qualifying times with last year’s F1 LMS times at Spa and Monza we get a very similar percentage difference in performance: the LMS cars are 12.4% slower, give or take 0.03%
Spa and Monza are also two of the fastest circuits on the Formula 1 calendar and are probably a better guide of lap times at the Circuit de la Sarthe than the Circuit de Catalunya, where the ratio of corners to straights is higher.
The LMS pole time at Catalunya this year was a fraction over 14% slower than the best time in F1 qualifying.
Stephane Sarrazin’s pole position time for Peugeot at Le Mans this year was a 3′18.513. Based on the difference between the F1 and LMS times at Catalunya this year, the projected fastest lap time by an F1 car would be 2′54.118.
However I think the gap between F1 and LMS cars would be wider at Catalunya than at Spa, Monza and the Circuit de la Sarthe. But even using the conservative difference of 12.4%, the F1 car would still be comfortably under the three minute mark.
Of course, this is an entirely hypothetical and crude mathematical assessment. Many things could influence differences in the time: track conditions, weather conditions and so on.
The only way to find out for sure would be for someone to take a modern F1 car out there. Unfortunately Formula 1 has only ever raced the short and unloved Bugatti circuit at Le Mans in 1967.
Depends on the top speed of LMS cars, I think. Besides, Circuit de la Sarthe is mostly made up of really fast corners which could probably be taken at about 65%-75% throttle in the current F1 cars, without any real tuning. I’d bet at somewhere around 1:45-48.
Apologies, I meant 2:45-48. I haven’t been drinking a lot, I promise
In Grand Tourismo 4 (not a perfect analogy, but not too bad), the LMS cars are actually faster at Sarthe – largely due to the top speed difference. Of course, I’m not sure what wing configuration the GT4 F1 car is designed for, but even with the minimum downforce allowed the LMS cars have 20-30mph advantage in top speed.
With the grip of F1 cars nowadays, I’d say it would take 2:30-35.
Scootin159, I wonder if the top speed advantage you speak of would be negated somewhat in real life, since the F1 crews would be able to adjust not only downforce but also gear ratios. Mulsanne is no longer 6km long of course, but even with it split into three sections, does any current F1 venue offer such long straights?
I think this is a job for Clarkson, May, and Hammond to tackle. One of you Brits needs to call up the folks at Top Gear and get them to send the Stig out on a fact-finding research project for us. We must know!
Yeah send them into compete LMES 24 hours next year with a F1 car. They’ve got the experience in endurance racing and I’d love to see chief designer/mechanic/engineer/catering supplies/pitstop crew Steve again on our screens
Scootin, games are always a poor mark for assessment comparative to real life, and GT4 is even worse for it considering its 6% faster for excitement purpose.
With Bernie complaining constantly about Magny Cours, I don’t understand why the F1 cars can’t go to Le Mans. It is simply fantastic tack and the Paris street race is never going to happen.
The Bugatti Circuit isn’t bad, it just isn’t great either. Frankly, it was ahead of its time by being a series of straights with hairpins of varying degrees at the end of each one.
I don’t see the real big circuit seeing action more than once a year, there’s people living in those houses along the Mulsanne, aren’t there? Brands Hatch has the same sort of problems with its locals.
Love the idea of a three-minute lap in F1 though
There would be fewer complaints about back markers!
I would say that an F1 car isn’t really suited to this circuit so though I think it would be faster (on a single lap) than an LMP1 it wouldn’t be by as much as the other circuits you mentioned. Manly as there are only a couple of big stops which is where the F1 car would be good. And for the F1 car to reach a good speed down the Mulsane straight it would need a setup which wouldn’t suite it round the twisty bits.
Would be fascinating to see the true difference though, they need to arrange a demo run at some point.
Very interesting comparison and something that I had been wondering about. Well done
I think the dirvers would hate it too. I think it was Ralf Schumacher who said that he used to feel like nodding off on the old Hockenheim straights. Le Mans would be the same, probably. Ther could be some noce slipstreaming, mind you.