Red Bull are pioneers: They have found a way for insanely fast pit stops
F1 News
- GPblog.com
Red Bull Racing are lightning-fast when it comes to pit stops. They often set the fastest pit stop in the Grands Prix. As a result, they also lead the pit stop championship and although it partly comes down to training, it appears that Red Bull Racing have another secret up their sleeve: lasers.
A huge number of factors play a role
“They operate within the same rules as everyone else, they practice a lot like everyone else. But the amount and the way you practice makes a difference," says Marc Priestley - a former McLaren mechanic - in a new video on YouTube. “They look for everything where to find time to pick up and they can design the kit for the pit stops themselves. The shape of the wheel gun, the way it works… it's all designed in-house."
According to Priestley, the entire operation, but also the parts can be designed in-house and that is what makes the difference. "The teams are also looking for more efficient options here. This also includes innovations such as how quickly the wheelgun clicks on the nut, how efficient the light system is and the driver also plays a role. Because, how good is he at stopping at the exact spot?"
Red Bull is a pioneer
“Red Bull uses - they were the first, but maybe others are using it now - lasers, they were a pioneer. They have lasers hanging over the car that fire signals to every corner of the car and the point where the lasers intersect, that's where the wheelgun should be placed.
“So before the car arrives, you have the wheel gun at exactly the right height. It's a small detail, but it helps you in the placement. This can save a hundredth of a second and those kinds of details make a difference. Red Bull apparently have that completely in order. Everything is reliable and it is fast."