MotoGP vs Formula 1: what is faster? The hard numbers.

Posted on 08-05-2016 at 13:12 by MauritsH – 72 Comments”

The most irrelevant questions are sometimes the most fun.

A technical comparison

100% accurate figures to give teams and manufacturers, of course, not price. You want competition, after all, not be wiser than necessary. It’s in the list below to find the older figures on the basis of the old technical regulations, but which still give a nice indication as to comparisons.

• Weight: MotoGP – 157 kg, Formula 1 – 640 kg (including driver).
• Power: MotoGP – approx. 250 horsepower, Formula 1 – ca. 880 hp.
• 0-160 km/h: MotoGP – 3,3 s, Formula 1 – 3,5 s.
• 0-300 km/h: MotoGP – 11,8, Formula 1 – 10,6 s.
• 160-0 km/h: MotoGP 4, Formula 1 – 1.5 s.

The main differences are quite simple to explain. MotoGP bikes only have two tires with a much smaller contact patch and so much less braking power. In addition, the rear wheel during braking is often slightly lifted, so that it no longer can help in slowing. On the other hand, the shape of the engines is considerably less drag on, and that’s beneficial in a straight line. Formula 1 cars can get harder through corners and brake much harder.

Moreover, it is difficult to figures to find that really indicate what the ratios are. So can F1-cars at low speeds, their power barely lost, where MotoGP engines their front wheel with the least acceleration of the air in lift.

Lap times

Through to the main open door: a Formula 1 car on any circuit is always faster than a MotoGP bike. In fact, F1 is at a circuit, in principle, always be faster than any motorcycle. Aerodynamics, a dike on power output, 4 sticky tires and a battery of electronics to get everything in line to keep all their bit.

There was overlap between the two championships, so that compare was handy.

Silverstone 2011, pole position-times:

Formula 1: 1:30,399 (Mark Webber, Red Bull-Renault)
MotoGP: 2:02,020 (Casey Stoner, Honda)

Note: the circuit that the MotoGP was used, was marginally longer than the Formula 1 version.

Malaysia 2015, fastest lap times:

Formula 1: 1:42,062 (Nico Rosberg, Mercedes)
MotoGP: 2:00,606 (Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha)

Top speed

In straight line it is a lot more exciting between the two koningsklassen. MotoGP engines get (especially since the four stroke era) bizarre top speeds and who are the class a little bit of follow, you know that particular Ducati, time after time, manage to get the entire field to be surprised by consistently the highest speed record on the straight stretches. Of course, due to that desmodromische klepbediening! Formula 1 cars are, of course, no doetjes and their rear wing with DRS flat. That saves quite a bucket of air resistance.

We will look at circuits where both championships come, or came, then put the MotoGP engines are head and shoulders above it. Note, however, that a motorcycle is much earlier in the braking needs than an F1 car. To compare: a MotoGP bike pulls during braking 1,1/1,2 G, while a Formula 1 racer with ease 5 G to endure during the maximum delay. Fact: an F1 car on high speed only all the gas is released, it brakes harder than a MotoGP racer ever could. Sebastian Vettel and Daniil Kvyat can you all about tell.

We compare top speeds on the circuit of Barcelona:

Formula 1, qualifying 2015: Felipe Massa, Williams-Mercedes, 334,2 km/h.
MotoGP, qualification 2015: Andrea Iannone, Ducati, 345,6 km/h.

In conclusion,

MotoGP bikes are in a straight line faster than Formula 1 cars. Point. The less wind resistance and yet still beastly hp/weight ratio ensure that the two-wheelers continue to attract, where F1-racers above 300 km/h serious burden to start getting wind resistance.

On the other hand, F1 cars are pieces of harder braking and lap times at the four-wheelers significantly rapper than in MotoGP thanks to the many aerodynamic advantages. Also, Formula 1 racers, of course, also on the back straight absolutely their male.

The only relevant question is actually where you prefer watching.