2026 archive
Traction at The Loop: where McLaren build their time at Silverstone
In the tight turn 4 at Silverstone, Norris goes to full throttle 25 metres earlier than his rivals. An analysis of rear-end stability in the slowest hairpin on the British track.
The Loop (Turn 4) is the slowest corner at Silverstone: you enter at 88 km/h and you have to put the power down to attack the Wellington Straight. Through this section, Norris's McLaren is back to 100% throttle just 22 metres after the apex, against the 47 metres Russell's Mercedes needs.
Being able to put the torque down without triggering wheelspin allows Norris to build 115 thousandths of an advantage over the first two hundred metres of the following straight.
Getting on the power earlier at the slowest point of the circuit delivers an advantage that extends for over 800 metres, showing how crucial mechanical traction is even at the temples of speed.