TESLA

New Tesla Roadster flies at the Nürburgring, aided by algorithms

The German Nürburgring circuit—spanning 20.8 km and featuring over 150 corners—has traditionally served as the ultimate proving ground to determine the best supercar on the market, based on the fastest lap time achieved. Naturally, there was significant interest in seeing how the new Tesla Roadster would fare against other supercars, whether powered by electric, internal combustion, or hybrid powertrains. However, there was an initial hurdle: the Tesla Roadster does not yet exist as a production vehicle; the two-seater coupé currently exists only as a prototype, with the production version not expected until 2028.

As the old saying goes, "desperate times call for desperate measures"—or, in this case, if the car isn't yet available, one can create a virtual model to compare it against the competition. Modern simulators—driven largely by the demands of competitive racing, with Formula 1 at the forefront—have evolved to an almost startling degree. This has turned today’s top drivers, such as Max Verstappen, into true masters of simulation, where the precision and fidelity to real-world track conditions are remarkably lifelike.

This virtual supercar comparison relied heavily on the expertise of Marek Lubieniecki, a Polish specialist in vehicle simulation optimization. Long recognized in the motorsport world as a leading authority on lap-time optimization, Lubieniecki calculates ideal racing lines, track-driving dynamics, and optimal trajectories tailored to each specific car and driver, based on their unique vehicle setup. Lubieniecki became a significant figure in F1 when he simulated the behavior of the future power units proposed by the FIA—set to debut in 2026—accurately predicting the challenges regarding battery management, as well as the top speeds at the Brazilian and Mexican Grands Prix. Since then, the Polish engineer has established himself as one of the best in the field at developing algorithms for the simulation and efficiency optimization of single-seater race cars.

To demonstrate the rigor of his virtual model and the validity of his expertise, Lubieniecki began testing parameters such as steering, braking and acceleration capabilities, tire grip, weight transfer, front/rear and total downforce, as well as power, weight, length, width, and height. To verify the margin of error in his virtual model, he input data for the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT, the Tesla Model S Plaid, and the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra, comparing the lap times generated by his simulator for the Nürburgring against the actual best lap times achieved by each of these sports cars. For the Porsche, the deviation was only 0.1 seconds, while for the Tesla, it was 0.5 seconds—over the course of a nearly 7-minute lap. In the case of the Xiaomi, the deviation was 6.6 seconds; Lubieniecki noted that this was likely due to a reduction in power toward the end of the lap, presumably caused by overheating. After proving the validity of his virtual model, Lubieniecki shared via social media that the Tesla Roadster—powered by 1,360 hp and equipped with a suction system to increase cornering grip—would be capable of completing a lap in 5 minutes and 41 seconds.

 

The Polish expert capped the speed at 338 km/h, estimating a lap time between 5:38 and 5:58; he noted that if the suction power drops to 70%, the time would increase to 5:48, and if it falls to 50%, the lap time would extend to 5:58. Should the Roadster fail to keep its temperatures within normal operating parameters, it could lose another four seconds. Nevertheless, Lubieniecki maintains that, under normal conditions, the Roadster has the potential to complete a lap in 5 minutes and 40.772 seconds. This would mean the Roadster beats the 2022 Porsche Taycan Turbo S (which set a fastest lap of 7:33.300) by 1 minute and 52.228 seconds, and the 2026 Taycan Turbo GT with the Manthey package (6:55.533) by 1:14.761. It would also outperform the 2023 Tesla Model S Plaid (7:25.231) by 1:44.459 and the 2025 Xiaomi SU7 Ultra (7:04.957) by 1:24.185.

The performance of the new Tesla Roadster on the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit (the "Green Hell") promises to be historic, thanks to a significant engineering leap in the model. Although Tesla has yet to set an official track time, technical data and advanced optimal control simulations—based on the specifications of the performance model (excluding gas-powered thrusters)—offer a projection of how the car would perform across the circuit’s 20.8 km:

1. Estimated performance and lap time

Estimated Lap Time: Vehicle dynamics simulations indicate that the Roadster could complete a lap in between 5:36 and 5:58 (averaging ~5:41). Direct comparisons:

- Mercedes-AMG One (a street-legal combustion/hybrid supercar): 6:29.09. The Roadster would be at least 30 seconds faster.

- Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo (an unrestricted racing prototype): 5:19.55. The Roadster would fall within approximately 20 seconds of this absolute record.

2. Critical advantage: Active ground effect (Fans/Suction)

The Roadster’s greatest asset at the Nürburgring is not merely its straight-line acceleration, but rather its grip in low- and medium-speed corners.

- Downforce at 0 km/h: An underbody fan system generates active suction (approximately 1,700 kg, or 1G, of suction force).

- Cornering behavior: Traditional aerodynamic wings only generate downforce at high speeds. Tesla’s suction system provides immediate grip in tight, technical sections (such as Hatzenbach or Adenauer Forst)—areas where conventional vehicles struggle to generate downforce.

The performance of the new Tesla Roadster on the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit ("The Green Hell") promises to be historic, though it hinges on how Tesla addresses the track's technical challenges.

Theoretical potential (shattering records)...Currently, the record for a production electric vehicle at the Nürburgring is held by the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT (~6:55 min), while the absolute record for road-legal production cars belongs to the Mercedes-AMG One (6:29.09 min).

Based on specifications released by Tesla:

-Immense Power: A 1 MW (~1,360 hp) powertrain combined with instantaneous torque vectoring would deliver brutal acceleration when exiting corners and along the Döttinger Höhe straight.

-Ground Effect / Suction Fans: The Performance version of the Roadster features a system of fans and adaptive skirts that generate downforce even at 0 km/h. This would allow for cornering speeds comparable to—or even exceeding—those of GT3-class race cars.

-Cold-Gas Thrusters (Rocket/Thrust Trim): If utilized during a flying lap, these auxiliary thrusters could provide lateral stabilization and extreme acceleration through critical sections of the track.

Engineers and analysts estimate that, under ideal aerodynamic and traction conditions, the Roadster has the theoretical capability to complete a lap in under 6 minutes.

Major challenges at the Nordschleife...Spanning 20.8 km with over 70 corners, the Nürburgring is the world’s most demanding circuit for electric vehicles, primarily due to two critical factors:

Battery thermal management:

-Maintaining a continuous output of 1 megawatt of power over a 20 km distance generates an immense amount of heat within the battery cells. To maintain this pace without entering a protective mode (thermal throttling), Tesla requires an extremely robust cooling system (featuring dedicated chillers and radiators).

-Weight vs. Braking and Suspension: Despite the extensive use of carbon fiber, titanium, and magnesium, the battery pack (~150 kWh) keeps the estimated weight near 1,700 kg. The continuous stress placed on the brakes, tires (such as the Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS), and suspension—compounded by the bumps and undulations of the Nordschleife—demands an impeccable setup.

Summary of expectations:

Scenario---Estimated Time---Comparison/Impact

-Without thermal limitations (Full Attack Mode)---Under 6:00 min---Breaks the all-time record for road-legal cars (Mercedes-AMG One: 6:29).

-With thermal limitations/road-legal restrictions---6:15 – 6:35 min---Surpasses the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT (6:55) and competes directly with combustion-engine hypercars.

The performance of the new Tesla Roadster on the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit (the "Green Hell") promises to be historic, thanks to a major engineering leap in the model. Although Tesla has yet to set an official track time, technical data and advanced optimal control simulations—based on the specifications of the Performance model (excluding gas-powered thrusters)—offer a glimpse into how the car would perform across the circuit’s 20.8 km (12.9-mile) layout:

1. Estimated performance and lap time:

Estimated lap time: Vehicle dynamics simulations suggest the Roadster could complete a lap in between 5:36 and 5:58 (averaging approximately 5:41). For direct comparison:

- Mercedes-AMG One (a road-legal combustion/hybrid supercar): 6:29.09. The Roadster would be at least 30 seconds faster.

- Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo (an unrestricted racing prototype): 5:19.55. The Roadster would fall within about 20 seconds of this absolute record.

2. Critical advantage: Active ground effect (fans/suction):

The Roadster’s greatest asset at the Nürburgring is not merely its straight-line acceleration, but its grip in low- and medium-speed corners.

Downforce at 0 km/h: An underbody fan system generates active suction (approximately 1,700 kg, or 1G, of suction force). Cornering Behavior: Traditional aerodynamic wings only generate downforce at high speeds. Tesla’s suction system provides immediate grip in tight, technical sections (such as Hatzenbach or Adenauer Forst)—areas where conventional cars struggle to generate downforce.

3. Where the car excels and where it faces challenges:

Sector/Aspect---Behavior at the Nürburgring:

-Slow and Medium-Speed ​​Corners: Dominant—the constant ground effect allows the car to navigate corners with a level of grip and speed unprecedented for a road-legal vehicle.

-Straightaways (Döttinger Höhe): Very fast, but not miraculous—with 1 MW (~1,341 hp) of power and a top speed limited to around 338 km/h (210 mph), it performs much like a high-end, state-of-the-art EV.

Undulations and curbs:

-Critical point: The Nürburgring is notorious for jumps and undulations (e.g., Pflanzgarten). If the ground-effect sealing skirts lose contact with the asphalt due to bumps, the car could lose as much as 30% to 50% of its downforce (suction).

Thermal management:

-Battery Challenge: Sustaining a 1 MW discharge for more than 5 minutes pushes cell temperatures above 60°C. Any power reduction ("power fade") caused by overheating toward the end of a lap could cost 3 to 5 seconds off the total lap time.

Tires:

-Extreme wear: Subjected to the combined forces of aerodynamic downforce (suction) and violent acceleration, the tires (e.g., Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS) operate at the absolute limit of their load and temperature capacity (>110°C).

The verdict...Given an ideal track scenario and a suspension setup tuned to absorb the imperfections of the Nordschleife, the new Tesla Roadster has the potential to shatter the production-car record and approach the lap times of dedicated Le Mans-style racing prototypes. In practice, the main deciding factor will be the thermal system's ability to maintain maximum energy delivery from the first second on the track to the very last.

Autonews and MotorLand