Belgian-Dutch racing car driver Max Verstappen currently holds the record for the fastest Formula1 pit stops of all time. He recorded a 1.82-second pit stop in 2019 while driving for the Red Bull team. Max Verstappen’s 1.88-second pit stop in 2019 and Pierre Gasly’s 1.91-second pit stop also deserve their mentions among the fastest pit stops in F1 history.
Teamwork and coordination are two of the keys to maximizing the success of Formula 1 pit stops. A team of 15 to 20 mechanics changes tires and front wings and adjusts downforce levels quickly. Probably the most prominent example of Formula One being a team sport is pit stops. Here we have listed the fastest pit stops in F1 of all time, which shocked the fans with tremendous teamwork.
Fastest Pit Stops In F1 | 2024 Power Ranking
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F1 is undoubtedly one of the most popular sports in the whole world. Besides, it is also among the richest sports right now that offer millions of dollars to its drivers. But do you know what the fastest pit stops in F1 are? Check this out!
10. Ayrton Senna
Pit Stop Time: 4.81 seconds
Team: McLaren
Year: 1993
Ayrton Senna, the Brazilian legend, entered the track in 1993 for a tire change and exited four seconds later. Those speeds are much faster than the 8 seconds we saw one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, Michael Schumacher, set for his pit stop, but they are still slower than the pit stops we will see shortly.
Senna and the crew tried to get the fastest pit stops in F1, but we can say that they did not accomplish the goal at that time. However, with 4.81 seconds, they still manage to get into the top 10 slots.
Back then, the fastest pit stop was performed by Benetton in 1993, lasting only 3.2 seconds. Some details of the stop were written in one of the books belonging to a Benetton crew member.
9. Valtteri Bottas
Pit Stop Time: 2.36 seconds
Team: Mercedes
Year: 2017
The Mercedes claim this incredible pit spot to be one of the fastest pit stops in F1. However, the team managed to do this in less than 3 seconds, but, indeed, their goal was less.
Bottas and the team can go faster than after successfully trying to do the best communication during the race for excellent results in benefits of both winning and setting the records. Besides that, Bottas has had nine wins with 1559 career points till now.
Also, Mercedes won the Constructors’ Championship for a fourth consecutive year in the US. Vettel secured his third pole of the season at the Brazilian Grand Prix and followed it up with a fourth pole position and third win at Abu Dhabi.
8. Lewis Hamilton
Pit Stop Time: 2.31 seconds
Team: Mercedes
Year: 2012
A notable pit stop by one of the highest-paid athletes right now, Lewis Hamilton, occurred after his Mercedes car accidentally went into the McLaren pits after only leaving the team two races before. But he still managed to get one of the fastest pit stops of all time with 2.31 seconds.
Lewis’s incredible team played a massive role in the success of his career. They always try to achieve the best results with their teamwork and coordination in the race. And on the other hand, one of the most important athletes right now, Hamilton, showed his talent on track.
Besides that, Lewis’s overall career performance made him one of the most respected sportsmen in F1 racing. With 3879 career points, Lewis has won 98 wins till now in his career.
7. Kimi Raikkonen
Pit Stop Time: 2.20 seconds
Team: Ferrari
Year: 2018
Currently, most of the cars complete their pit stops within approximately three seconds of each other. Having hit the 2.20 seconds mark, Kimi’s pit stop did something rare in 2018.
On Lap 20, the Ferrari and Mercedes pit crews took advantage of the opportunity to change tires. In contrast, Hamilton stayed out on the track when race leader Räikkönen entered the pit lane and took the lead for the first time that afternoon.
Even though Ferrari performed the fastest pit stop of the day by 2.20 seconds, it was an early stop that eventually got the better of them. However, they managed to get the position at one of the fastest pit stops in F1 with their outstanding performance and bounding.
6. Sebastian Vettel
Pit Stop Time: 1.97 seconds
Team: Ferrari
Year: 2018
We all know Sebastian Vettel as one of the highest-paid race-car drivers of all time. During his first pit stop on Lap 27, Vettel had new tires installed in a time of 1.97 seconds – the first wheel changed the season in less than two seconds.
Vettel and the team achieve one of the fastest pit stops in F1 with excellent coordination and effort. Besides that, Jean-Louis Vittel won four consecutive world championships between 2010 and 2013.
His first title made him the sport’s youngest world champion, breaking the records for the most consecutive nine race wins and the most races won in a season (13). With 3028 career points, Vettel has won 53 races in his career.
5. Mark Webber
Pit Stop Time: 1.923 seconds
Team: Red Bull
Year: 2013
Sebastian Vettel, the driver of Red Bull Racing, won his eighth straight Formula 1 race at the United States Grand Prix. However, Webber’s teammate also set a record when he had one of the fastest pit stops. Internal data from Red Bull Racing shows Webber stopped after lap 29 in 1.923 seconds.
NBC reported that Webber’s time was 2.05 seconds, which is still quite fast, but it is slower than his previous record. Mark Webber remained Red Bull’s second priority since Romain Grosjean was in second place.
A remarkable thing happened to him on Lap 28 when he came in for his pit stop. Every mechanic is well-prepared like they always are, and their pneumatic drills are ready at hand. On went the old medium compound tires in the front and the rear, and on went the new hard.
4. Felipe Massa
Pit Stop Time: 1.92 seconds
Team: Williams
Year: 2016
Formula 1 witnessed one of the fastest pit stops in F1 ever during the Grand Prix of Europe when a pit crew replaced four tires in historical time and sent their driver back on his way in full view of TV cameras.
Williams’ team in 2016 achieved fine art in pit stop precision with surprise. After Lap 7, their driver Felipe Massa was able to reach their pit box. The time of 1.92 seconds made this pit memorable for F1 fans for an extended period.
As far as in-race pit stops are concerned, the Williams team has earned a reputation as one of the best. Furthermore, in 2016, Williams was the winner of the award for the quickest pit stop at every F1 race — so far that year.
3. Pierre Gasly
Pit Stop Time: 1.91 seconds
Team: Red Bull
Year: 2019
The time it took Red Bull’s pit crew to change four tires on Pierre Gasly’s car at the British Grand Prix probably wouldn’t be a lot. The folks behind the guns can be seen tracking the wheels as they roll slowly.
As other squadmates raise the car, the old rubber starts coming off almost simultaneously. They fist-bumped and patted each other on the helmet, so they knew they did an excellent job after Grasly drove away in just 1.91 seconds.
That makes it one of the fastest stops ever in Formula One history. Besides that, it was the quick pit stop that helped Gasly finish fourth in the British Grand Prix.
2. Max Verstappen
Pit Stop Time: 1.88 seconds
Team: Red Bull
Year: 2019
Red Bull Racing did it again at Hockenheim, changing all four wheels of Max Verstappen in a record 1.88 seconds, just one race after lowering the benchmark for the 2nd fastest pit stop in Formula 1. The team’s fantastic performance and coordination led them to achieve this feat.
Lap 46 marked the final stop for Max Verstappen. In a last-ditch attempt to get the car to the line in qualifying, Verstappen switched from intermediates to soft slicks after a long period of drizzling rain. Moreover, the Red Bull pit crew reached their 8th stop of nine during the afternoon’s chaos due to Verstappen and Gasly.
The pair did not indicate fatigue. In just 1.88 seconds, Verstappen returned to the track and took the lead from Lance Stroll after just a few meters. After winning his second race of the season, he cruised to a comfortable victory.
1. Max Verstappen
Pit Stop Time: 1.82 seconds
Team: Red Bull
Year: 2019
In Britain, the team recorded its first record-breaking pit stop in 1.91 seconds, and then again in Germany with a 1.88-second pit stop. And it was the third time that Red Bull again broke its own fastest record, which is the fastest pit stop in Formula 1 till now.
Verstappen passed Lewis Hamilton twice on the circuit to secure his eighth F1 victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix in November 2019. During the race at Interlagos, his mechanics also earned themselves some accolades after becoming the fastest pit crew in F1 history.
Despite only taking 1.82 seconds to stop the Dutchman’s car, change his four tires, and get him online, the team of technicians managed to get him back on the road.
Final Words
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Fastest Pit Stops In F1 – Infographics
FAQs Regarding Fastest Pit Stops In Formula 1
Q. On average, how long does a Formula 1 pit stop take?
For the first time in Formula 1 history, the FIA has slowed pit stops artificially. Currently, the average F1 pit stop lasts about 2.5 seconds, with times below two seconds fairly common in recent years.
Q. Which NASCAR pit stop is the fastest?
Ally pit crew holds the fastest average four-tire pit stop in the 2021 Cup Series season at 13.641 seconds. At Dover International Speedway in May, the team recorded the second-quickest stop of the year at 12.178 seconds.
Q. Who is the fastest F1 driver today?
We see the virtual safety car and Antonio Giovinazzi’s dead car at 8.55 a.m., which marks the end of Alfa Romeo’s day. At 8:50 a.m.: Lap 32, Hamilton worries about the tires. Then he sets the fastest lap after the fastest lap.
Q. Does F1 allow pit stops?
F1 drivers usually make between 1-3 pit stops during a race. Depending on the weather, track conditions, rivals’ strategies, and potential car damage, a driver may have to stop multiple times. However, at least one tire change is required in a race.
Last Updated On: April 2024