Pit stops are an essential part of motorsport and especially Formula 1 and are mainly used as a stopping point or as a punishment. The teams have different pit stop strategies, but the main focus is on spending less time moving the driver’s cause forward and helping them climb the ladder during the race. Here’s a look at what an F1 pit stop, the longest pit stop in F1 history, is and how the F1 pit stop works.
What is a pit stop in F1?
While the focus in a race is on the driver, F1 is of course a team sport and a pit stop carries this essence. Pit stops are a refueling break, new tires, repairs, mechanical adjustments, a driver change, a penalty, or any combination of the above.
How does the F1 pit stop work?
Pit stops take place in an area known as the pits, most commonly accessed via a pit lane that runs parallel to the start / finish straight of the track and is connected to it at each end. A pit stop can be planned as well as unplanned and sudden, depending on the racing situation. A car usually pits once or twice, depending on the route. Pit stop strategies have evolved over the years and it only takes seconds for the crews to make changes with some well-choreographed movements. F1 uses a traffic light system for cars to enter and exit the pit lane and gives the driver an indication of when it is safe to enter / leave the lane.
What is the longest pit stop in F1 history?
The longest pit stop in F1 history came recently after Mercedes F1 star Valterri Bottas suffered fate during the Monaco Grand Prix. Bottas finished second in the Monaco Grand Prix, but a bizarre pit stop mistake ensured he had his first DNF of his career. The pit stop lasted more than 43 hours as the Mercedes F1 team struggled to loosen the right wheel from Botta’s No. 77. While there are many theories as to what caused the failure, it can simply be traced back to the improper use of the wheel cannon.
Each team in F1 receives two pneumatic wheel cannons in case one of them fails, which are operated with compressed air. Mechanics have buttons on their wheel guns to signal when a stop has been made, but can also raise their hands. While Mercedes had suffered the embarrassment of the longest pit stop in F1 history, it also had a major impact on their position in the overall standings as they ceded the lead in both the constructors ‘and drivers’ standings to rivals Red Bull Racing.
Fastest pit stop in F1 history: which team has the best pit stop strategy?
Red Bull Racing has perfected the art of pit stops over the years to give its drivers an advantage during the race. A pit stop usually lasts 2 to 3 seconds. Red Bull Racing holds the current world record for the fastest pit stop in F1 history with a stop of 1.82 seconds at the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix on Max Verstappen. Red Bull technicians are just neat at their job and get the job done with lightning speed, much to the awe and amazement of their rivals. Despite its embarrassment in Monaco, Mercedes tried to keep up and make the fastest pit stop in F1 this season. At the Emilia-Romagna GP in Italy, he completed the maneuver in 2.24 seconds.
