[Saba Sports News] McLaren set a new world record for the fastest F1 pit stop at last season’s Qatar Grand Prix with a time of 1.8 seconds. The team swiftly replaced all four worn tyres on Lando Norris’ car in the blink of an eye, amazing fans with the mechanics’ flawless teamwork.
According to media statistics, an F1 team needs 24 crew members to finish a pit stop in around two seconds, with each person assigned a distinct fixed role. All teams follow identical pit stop procedures, yet cutting down the time relies entirely on the mechanics’ tacit coordination.
During a pit stop, crew members lift the car with front jacks while two staff stand on either side to steady it. Four mechanics are positioned at each wheel to carry out tyre changes. One crew member removes the old tyre while another fits the new one into place. Wheel gun operators loosen and fasten wheel nuts, and two more mechanics adjust the angles of front wings and flaps. The rest of the team act as observers, perform minor maintenance, and stand by with fire extinguishers, spare equipment, tools and spare parts. Backup staff are also arranged for jack operation and tyre handling. The average F1 pit stop lasts less than three seconds, all thanks to the joint efforts of the 24-person crew.
In my opinion, F1 pit stops focus on conciseness, high efficiency and seamless collaboration. Replacing four tyres within two seconds by a 24-member team perfectly embodies the ultimate integration of sophisticated engineering and ergonomic design.