What is the racing streak in Formula 1 – and why drivers try to avoid it in the wet

What exactly is the racing streak in Formula 1 and why do drivers tend to stick to it over the weekend at the Grand Prix? Why do they also try to avoid it during the races?

There are many different ways to drive an F1 car – all 20 drivers have slightly different driving techniques.

Some like to brake early and roll through a corner before speeding away – like Daniel Ricciardo.

Others like a car with over-steering — the rear of it sticks out — or lower when the front doesn’t turn enough as an ideal setup.

World Champion Max Verstappen loves a car with a strong, tapered front end so he can spin the car and tackle the unstable rear end as it happens.

Whatever the driver likes to drive, one thing is certain for everyone: they must stick to the race line on the fastest lap possible.

What exactly is a race streak and why is it so important to Formula 1 drivers over the weekend? Why try to avoid it in the wet?

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What is the racing streak in F1?

Essentially, the race streak in Formula 1 is the fastest and shortest way to beat a lap.

Drivers try to make the turns as straight as possible to withstand the maximum high speed as possible.

The overall goal from each corner is to get to the top – the closest corner part of the car across the middle of it.

Each corner usually has one line running through it which is the fastest – and this is the line that drivers will use consistently throughout a Grand Prix weekend.

As a normal dry weekend develops, this race streak will be subject to what is known as the “rubber in” Formula One cars.

Since cars are constantly running on the same lines through the lap, the rubber will be damped to provide drivers with extra grip and speed.

It is usually lighter than the rest of the track – which is sometimes covered in tire marble – bits of rubber that are ejected from the Pirellis.

Why should it be avoided in the wet?

During wet conditions, the F1 race streak can be tricky and slippery at times.

The driver can find more stability and speed by running wide and trying different lines through corners to find time.

One example came at the 2016 Brazilian Grand Prix, which ran in torrential rain.

Verstappen simply drove around the outside of Nico Rosberg in a Mercedes at Turn 3 after a safe car restart – with the Merc on the race line, Verstappen spotted a grip on the outside.

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