Fastest Pit Stop Ever

Billy Shears · 29 Mar 2004, 06:32 (Ref:922530)

Does anyone know the stats for the fastest pit stop ever in F-1? I think it was a Benetton tire change in 1993 in sth unde 5 seconds, but couldn't find this kind of info anywhere on the net. That's counting only the actual team service, not the lane rolling.

climb · 29 Mar 2004, 07:15 (Ref:922547)

Not a very scientifical stats indeed; it's a manual timekeeping operations, and the moment the time starts and stops it's never exactly the same for every pit stop.

**Adam43** · 29 Mar 2004, 07:55 (Ref:922571)

IIRC there was an attempt on Guiness Book of records program (BBC, *dedivation is all you need*...). This wasn't in a race and I can't even remember which team it was (McLaren?).

Smokey 6 litre · 29 Mar 2004, 08:07 (Ref:922577)

i guess if its just tyres it could be done in about 4 sec or something from stop, tyres on, tyres off, go.

Sato san · 29 Mar 2004, 08:14 (Ref:922581)

I will have to dig out my tape of France 1991 again ????...as im sure Murray wet himself when McLaren gave Senna a pitstop in 4.6 seconds ....

I think it was that race , but it was damm impressive indeed....i also rememeber James Hunt saying that he was amazed that Senna was even ready to go after such a quick stop .

Mattracer · 29 Mar 2004, 11:08 (Ref:922687)

I seem to remember the same stop- it was about 4 seconds or so. I'm not at all surprised Senna was ready for it and his impending departure from said stop.

spearce · 29 Mar 2004, 11:28 (Ref:922703)

Sennas 'phantom' pit stop at Donington in '93 gets my vote,
since he got the lap record with it (shorter route + no pit lane speed limit).

Mr V · 29 Mar 2004, 11:38 (Ref:922720)

Quote:

Originally posted by Billy Shears
I think it was a Benetton tire change in 1993 in sth unde 5 seconds, but couldn't find this kind of info anywhere on the net.

Correct, it was at Spa 1993, and the stop was roughly 4.3 seconds, for Riccardo Patrese, unfortunatly for him, he spun it as he exited the pit lane

RWC · 29 Mar 2004, 13:33 (Ref:922863)

I did hear somewhere that maclaren hold the record with 4.1 seconds (in a race)
But yeah,it is tricky to time such a thing

Knowlesy · 29 Mar 2004, 15:36 (Ref:922962)

It wasn't unusual for most stops to be well under five seconds in the days before re-fuelling was re-introduced.

Williams seemed to struggle to get under 10 seconds rather a lot for some reason, they constantly botched pit-stops.

avsfan733 · 29 Mar 2004, 16:31 (Ref:923026)

No matter how fast it was I'm sure that it felt like forever for the driver sitting still after going so fast

Damon · 29 Mar 2004, 18:48 (Ref:923187)

Pitstops really where an event back then weren't they. Dangerous as hell but they sure were exciting.

avsfan733 · 29 Mar 2004, 21:24 (Ref:923358)

Any ponderances on how teams could further reduce the speed of tirechanging, could be advantageous with the qualifying/fuel stragey regulations now in place. ability to maybe one stop fuel and two stop tires...or just fill with as much fuel as you can the first time before the tires are changed and then fill it full later?

yobro · 29 Mar 2004, 21:32 (Ref:923371)

Quote:

Originally posted by Smokey 6 litre
i guess if its just tyres it could be done in about 4 sec or something from stop, tyres on, tyres off, go.

Dont the tyres come off 1st? be hard to go if the last move was to take them off...

paulzinho · 29 Mar 2004, 23:26 (Ref:923434)

Ban refuelling!! I want to see those lightening pit stops again!!!

Mattracer · 30 Mar 2004, 11:22 (Ref:923834)

Ban pitstops! I want to see drivers battling to the end on shagged rubber and on light fuel.

Hugh Jarce · 30 Mar 2004, 11:26 (Ref:923844)

Could be fun in Bahrain with sand everywhere!

**Adam43** · 30 Mar 2004, 11:30 (Ref:923851)

How about, every pitstop having to include a stop and go

steve_r · 30 Mar 2004, 11:31 (Ref:923853)

Quote:

Originally posted by knowlesy

Williams seemed to struggle to get under 10 seconds rather a lot for some reason, they constantly botched pit-stops.

Williams used to be at least as quick as the other teams. It all changed when Mansell's wheel fell off after a pitstop (i think he was leading at the time). It turned out that the wheel nut was incorrectly fitted during the stop.
After that they seemed paranoid every time they had a stop.

RWC · 31 Mar 2004, 02:28 (Ref:924701)

Yes i was thinking the same thing-was knowlesy thinking of the mid eighties?
When they lost one wheel too many they just fitted all wheels with lock pins and were very slow at pitstops (for several years?) because of that

freud · 31 Mar 2004, 02:37 (Ref:924708)

Well, correct me if I am wrong, Michael Schum has given the fastest pitstop in refeulling mode. Michael is probably the fastest 'pitsop' driver ever and has consistently given great pitstops with Ferrari and Bennetton. He is very accurate in the pits, brakes and accelerates at perfect timing and rarely makes mistakes.

golem · 31 Mar 2004, 02:47 (Ref:924715)

I'd personally keep pitstops because the old style ones were exciting. But refuelling is handy too. So make the stops slower, but limited by the mechanics, not the safety flowrate of the pumps...

Well boys, time to ban pneumatic lines in the pit area. Wheelbraces at high noon, pitstop showdown!

I mean, after all, I've seen them trip up on those things and nearly hurt themselves

Safety first!

Unfortunately, the whole fuel rate regulator idea was to slow down the pitstops so mechanics wouldn't hurt themselves getting out of the way. So we'll never see it's like again in F1.

Skam85 · 1 Apr 2004, 02:05 (Ref:925863)

IIRC 2002 Germany Felipe Massa had a stop that lasted 4.8 seconds. Sato san could probably confirm this!!!

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