The early days: 1950s-1970s
In the early days of Formula 1, pit stops were slow and rudimentary. Mechanics used basic hand tools to change tyres, and a typical stop could take 30 seconds or more. Refuelling was common, and the entire process was more of a necessary inconvenience than a strategic opportunity.
The revolution: 1980s-1990s
The 1980s brought the wheel gun — a pneumatic tool that could remove and replace a wheel nut in seconds. Pit stops dropped from 30 seconds to under 10. Teams began to see the pit stop as a strategic weapon rather than a necessary evil.
The 1990s saw the introduction of refuelling during pit stops, adding another layer of complexity. Teams could now run lighter fuel loads and pit more frequently, creating new strategic possibilities.
The modern era: 2010-present
Refuelling was banned in 2010, but pit stops continued to get faster. The introduction of the wheel gun with multiple operators per wheel, the use of carbon fibre wheel nuts, and the relentless training of pit crews brought stop times down to under two seconds.
Red Bull holds the record for the fastest pit stop in F1 history — 1.80 seconds, achieved at the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix. The stop was so fast that it challenged the limits of human reaction time.
The 2026 challenge
In the 2026 era, with lighter cars and different tyre compounds, pit stops have become even more critical. The reduced downforce means cars are more sensitive to tyre condition, and the strategic window for pitting is narrower than ever.