Using data from 732 races, 355 drivers, and 506 instances of conflict, defined as race-ending collisions, from Formula One races from 1970 to 2014, researchers modeled collision probability among drivers, and found that competition among drivers of similar status increased the likelihood of a collision between the drivers; further, the correlation between status similarity and conflict was pronounced among drivers who were close in age or who were competing in safe weather conditions, findings that might aid efforts to prevent conflicts, according to the authors.
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Article #17-17303: "Escalation of competition into conflict in competitive networks of Formula One drivers," by Henning Piezunka et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: Matthew S. Bothner, European School of Management and Technology Berlin, GERMANY; e-mail: matthew.bothner@esmt.org
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences