Sector Characteristics
VerifiedHow a lap splits into three timed sectors, each with its own mix of corner speeds, revealing where a car's pace really comes from.
Every lap is timed in three sectors, split at fixed points around the circuit. Each sector usually has its own character: a run of low-speed corners, a fast flowing section, a long straight, or some mix of all three.
A car's strengths don't have to show up evenly. One built for high-speed stability might gain heavily in a fast sector and give some of it back in a tight, low-speed one, so its overall lap time can hide a lot of variation underneath.
Comparing sector times, not just the final lap, is how you see where a car's pace actually comes from, and it can flag a setup trade-off before it shows up in the results.