Formula 1 pit crew work during pit stop

Pit crews are an essential part of every Formula 1 team, particularly during a Grand Prix weekend. In a race where seconds might matter, the idea of halting the vehicle to change the tires has the potential to completely influence the outcome. 

To change a tyre on your road automobile, you would have to wait for approximately fifteen minutes at the local mechanic. In F1, all four tires are changed in a pit lanein less than three minutes. A halt that takes less than two seconds can put you in a few spots on the track, but anything more than two and a half seconds is a long stop.

What is the size of the pit stop team in F1?

The F1 pit crew is composed of over 20 individuals. The car must be stabilised, the tires must be changed, the aerodynamics must be adjusted, and the vehicle must be released safely. One pit crew from each team works on both vehicles all weekend long. In other words, more than 200 personnel participated in the pit stops up and down the paddock for all ten teams. Even though they train to be part of the pit crew, each member plays a significant function elsewhere in the squad.

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What are the duties of each member of the F1 pit crew?

Tyre Gunner

Operating the pneumatic wheel gun is the tyre gunner's responsibility. In doing so, the nut holding the tire to the car's wheel is loosened. Once the new tyre is mounted, it tightens the nut back onto the wheel. They function similarly to a wheel gun you could find in your neighbourhood garage, but they have more than 10,000 revolutions per minute and are supercharged. There are eight cannons in each garage, two for each tire in case one fails.

Tyre off  and Tyre On

A straightforward but crucial duty. As fast as possible, one pit crew member must remove the 10.5-kilogram tire from the vehicle. The wheel gunner and the tyre-off crew member are waiting for the car to approach. The driver must reach the spot exactly. Fitting a new set of tires onto the vehicle is the duty of four crew members after the old tires have been removed. Upon receiving the call to pit, the pit crew will be given instructions on which tires to install on the vehicle. Timely delivery of the tires to the box is also essential.

Front Jack and Rear Jack

Using a specialised piece of equipment, this team member raises the car from the front. Sliding the jack beneath the car's front wing, they stand at the front of the pit box. In doing so, they raise the car into the air by exerting their weight on the handle. A member of the front jack pit crew walks to the side and out of the path of the car while the vehicle is held in this position during the stop. To change the back tires, the vehicle must be raised from behind using a rear jack. Like its front jack, the rear jack attaches to the car's rear indicator light. For emergencies, a second rear jack is available.

Front wing flap adjust

Depending on the track conditions, tire wear, fuel consumption, and driving style, the front wing flaps may need to be adjusted throughout a race. The driver uses “turns” to convey this information to his engineers. To modify the flaps, a mechanic using a drill turns a screw on the front wing. When the wing is damaged these crew members will fit a new wing. 

Also read: How do Formula 1 drivers combat wet conditions?