Understanding F1 Pit Stops
The art and science behind Formula 1's lightning-fast tire changes and race-winning strategies.
What Happens During a Pit Stop?
A modern F1 pit stop involves a team of approximately 20 crew members working in perfect synchronization to change four tires and make any necessary adjustments in under 2.5 seconds.
The Pit Crew Roles
Per Wheel (3 people):
- Gunner - operates the wheel gun
- Wheel Off - removes the old tire
- Wheel On - fits the new tire
Other Positions:
- Front jack operator
- Rear jack operator
- Front wing adjusters (2)
- Steadiers/stabilizers (2)
- Fire extinguisher ready
Pit Stop Strategy
Pit stop timing can make or break a race. Teams use sophisticated simulations to determine optimal pit windows based on tire degradation, track position, and competitor strategies.
The Undercut
Pitting before a competitor to gain track position. The driver on fresh tires posts faster lap times, and when the competitor finally pits, the undercutting driver emerges ahead.
Best used when: Tire degradation is high and there's a large pace advantage on fresh tires.
The Overcut
Staying out longer than a competitor. This works when the track is improving (track evolution) or when maintaining track position is more valuable than fresh tires.
Best used when: Track position is premium (like Monaco) or when you can maintain pace on older tires.
Common Pit Stop Strategies
One-Stop Strategy
Single tire change during the race. Minimizes time lost in pit lane but requires careful tire management.
Two-Stop Strategy
Two tire changes. Allows more aggressive driving and fresh tires, but costs more time overall.
Offset Strategy
Starting on different tires than competitors to create strategic flexibility later in the race.
Pit Stop Records
The fastest pit stop in F1 history was achieved by Red Bull Racing at the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix, completing a tire change in just 1.82 seconds on Max Verstappen's car.
Modern F1 pit stops are so fast that the car spends more time decelerating into and accelerating out of the pit box than actually stationary for the tire change.
The Pit Lane
Drivers must adhere to strict speed limits in the pit lane - typically 80 km/h (50 mph) during races and 60 km/h during practice. Speeding results in time penalties.
- Pit lane entry: Usually marked by a white line that drivers must stay to the right of
- Pit lane exit: Drivers cannot cross the blend line when rejoining the track
- Unsafe release: Releasing a car into the path of another results in a penalty