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Last year Ferrari suffered many embarrassments in the pitstops when both Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen dropped the clutch too early, resulting in near-misses with other cars (mainly similarly powered Adrian Sutil). The reason for the near misses wasn’t always driver error, and Ferrari’s lighting system came under a lot of criticism, so much so that the Maranello squad reverted back to the standard lollipop for the final three races. But the idea isn’t completely dead and buried just yet. Continue Reading

Well, that was a race and a half concerning pit stops. There were so many I actually lost count. The following information is just from my own observation, and I rushed the post for Sidepodcast and their live recording of their podcast. I think my math is wrong but I’ll correct it later tonight. Most started on wets, although Robert Kubica started on mediums, but pitted for wets and took the start from the pitlane. Continue Reading

Most drivers started the Chinese Grand Prix on the harder compound supplied by Bridgestone, although both Ferraris and both Williams started with the softer tyre, as did Adrian Sutil in the Force India. Most drivers two-stopped, although Timo Glock, Giancarlo Fisichella, David Coulthard and Kazuki Nakajima only pitted once. Robert Kubica did not change his tyres at his first stop, keeping the hard tyres on for his second stint. Sebastien Bourdais was the heaviest driver in Q3 yesterday, getting as far as lap 24 in today’s race before stopping. Continue Reading

Despite Ferrari’s pitstop lighting system having let the team down on two occasions thus far, Honda are testing a similar system with the view of running it next season. Like with Ferrari, the lights hang from a gantry above the driver during a pitstop and indicate when it is safe to to leave the box and continue with the race. Although Ferrari haven’t had much luck with them, Ross Brawn believes the lights are safer than the traditional lollipop. Continue Reading

During the Singapore Grand Prix, a number of teams made a mess of their pitstops and we saw a few mechanics fall to the ground as the cars sped away before they should have done. Most notable among the incidents was Felipe Massa, who was given the green light even though the fuel-rigger hadn’t released the hose from the car. In spectacular fashion, Massa kept his foot planted and ripped the hose from the rig, dragging it behind him and pulling the refueller to the floor in the process. Continue Reading

It wasn’t all that long ago that Ferrari had a two disastrous pitstops, one for each driver. And it appears that the Scuderia have made another mistake, giving Felipe Massa the green light to go while the fuel hose was still attached. As Massa dropped the clutch team members were thrown around and the hose was ripped from the machine and dragged down the pitlane, dangling from the Ferrari. Continue Reading

On lap 37 of the European Grand Prix, Felipe Massa came into the pitlane for his second scheduled stop. By the time he had completed his out-lap, the FIA were investigating the events that happened. On lap 48, Kimi Raikkonen pitted for his final stop, and in leaving the box, managed to knock over the refueller who was still attached to the car. Ferrari, it seems, are not looking too good in the pitlane at the moment, despite winning the race in dominant style. Continue Reading

Imagine, if will, standing on the hard shoulder of motorway. Cars are whizzing by at 70mph without a care in the world, safely cocooned in their survival cells. Exposed the elements though, you stand there, your hair being swept backwards by the rush of air flowing from the speeding motorists. You look up towards the traffic, eyeing the cars and accepting your fate. One driver makes eye contact, the stare piecing your mind as fear grips your motionless body. He kinks the car in your direction, aiming for you and seemingly not giving any thought to stopping. As your muscles tense you become aware of people around you, preparing for a surge of activity and rush of adrenaline. Your eyes close in blind panic. When you open them again, just a few moments later, the car is out of sight, hiding beneath you with only the intense heat giving away its position. You look down to where you hope your shins still are and see the front wing of a Formula One car, just inches away from a certain, painful catastrophe.

This is a Formula One pitstop, and you don’t have time to stand and stare. Continue Reading