
What is a G-G diagram?
The G-G diagram shows:- X-axis: Lateral acceleration (cornering forces)
- Y-axis: Longitudinal acceleration (braking/accelerating forces)
- Each point represents a moment in time during the lap
- The outer boundary shows the car’s performance limit
Load session and get telemetry
We’ll compare multiple drivers at Monaco Qualifying.Compute accelerations
Calculate g-forces from telemetry data using smooth derivatives to reduce noise.The
smooth_derivative() function uses a low-noise differentiator algorithm that reduces noise in the acceleration calculations. This is important because raw numerical derivatives amplify noise in the telemetry data, which would create unrealistic spikes in the G-G diagram.Create G-G diagram
Plot acceleration data with performance envelope using convex hull.The performance envelope is computed using
scipy.spatial.ConvexHull, which finds the smallest convex polygon that contains all acceleration points. This accurately represents the car’s performance limits across all directions of acceleration.Reading the diagram
Key insights from a G-G diagram:- Top of envelope (positive Y): Maximum acceleration
- Bottom of envelope (negative Y): Maximum braking
- Left/right edges (X): Maximum cornering forces
- Corners of envelope: Combined braking/acceleration + cornering
- Wider envelope: More grip available
- Rounder envelope: Better balanced car
Comparing drivers
Look for:- Envelope size: Larger = more grip being used
- Envelope shape: Asymmetry shows car balance issues
- Point density: Where drivers spend most time
- Peak values: Maximum g-forces achieved
Track characteristics
Different tracks produce different shapes:- Monaco: Smaller envelope, lower speeds, less extreme forces
- Monza: Larger longitudinal values (high-speed braking)
- Silverstone: Large lateral values (high-speed corners)