The apex is the point on the inside of a corner where a Formula 1 car comes closest to the edge of the track.
When a driver enters a corner, they usually start towards the outside of the track, turn towards the inside and then move back towards the outside as they accelerate away. The point where they get closest to the inside is the apex.
Why is the apex important?
Where and when a driver reaches the apex affects how quickly they can get through the corner.
Drivers don’t necessarily aim for the exact middle of every corner. Depending on the shape of the corner and what comes next, they may use an early apex or a late apex.
A late apex, for example, means the driver waits slightly longer before reaching the inside of the corner. This can help straighten the car sooner and allow them to accelerate earlier on the exit.
Drivers may also deliberately change their line because of tyre wear, wet conditions, another car or the need to defend or attack.
What does “missed the apex” mean?
If a commentator says a driver has missed the apex, it usually means they haven’t positioned the car as intended at the inside of the corner.
That can make the car run wider on the exit, delay acceleration and cost lap time.
This means the driver didn’t take their intended line through the corner, which affected how quickly they could accelerate away.
Example: He missed the apex and lost time on the exit
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