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Fastest F1 pit stop: McLaren has set the world record with this speedy stop

olivia munson, usa today
·3 min read
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When you're watching a Formula 1 race, it's easy to get caught up in the speed of it all; from the rhythmic sound of cars accelerating around the track to the high stakes between each team vying for the top spot.

Moments, like a pit stop, could be drowned out by all the other noise. But that doesn't mean a pit stop isn't important. In fact, it's more than just changing tires and could make or break a driver's timing and placement.

Some pit stops have even occurred in mere seconds. Here's what to know about the fastest F1 pit stop.

What is the fastest pit stop in F1?

The fastest pit stop in Formula 1 was recorded at 1.80 seconds. It was made by the McLaren Racing Limited pit crew servicing Lando Norris. It occurred during lap 27 of the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix.

The previous record was held by Oracle Red Bull Racing with a pit stop of 1.82 seconds. This took place during the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix.

Riding in style? Here's how much a Formula 1 race car costs (hint: it's a lot)

What is the DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award?

The DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award has been given out since 2015 "to recognize outstanding teamwork and performance from the unsung heroes who make a vital contribution to the drivers’ success on the track," according to DHL's website.

Each year, a winner is awarded based on a point system, where pit stops are given a certain amount depending on their duration during a Grand Prix. For each race, the team with the fastest pit stop receives 25 points. The second-fastest team gets 18 points and the third-fastest crew gets 15 points.

In 2022, the DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award was given to Oracle Red Bull Racing. This was the fifth consecutive win for the F1 racing team, which has won the award every year since 2018.

2024 Formula 1 season schedule

Here’s the official schedule of races for the upcoming season, with qualifying events happening the day before each.

  • March 2 - Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

  • March 9 - STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

  • March 24 - Rolex Australian Grand Prix

  • April 7 - MSC Cruises Japanese Grand Prix

  • April 21 - Lenovo Chinese Grand Prix

  • May 5 - Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix

  • May 19 - MSC Cruises Gran Premio Dell'Emilia-Romagna

  • May 26 - Grand Prix de Monaco

  • June 9 - Grand Prix du Canada

  • June 23 - Aramco Gran Premio de España

  • June 30 - Qatar Airways Hungarian Grand Prix

  • July 07 - Qatar Airways British Grand Prix

  • July 21 - Hungarian Grand Prix

  • July 28 - Rolex Belgian Grand Prix

  • Aug. 25 - Heineken Dutch Grand Prix

  • Sept. 1 - Pirelli Gran Premio D’Italia

  • Sept. 15 - Qatar Airways Azerbaijan Grand Prix

  • Sept. 22 - Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix

  • Oct. 20 - Pirelli United States Grand Prix

  • Oct. 27 - Gran Premio de la Ciudad de México

  • Nov. 3 - Lenovo Grande Prêmio de São Paulo

  • Nov. 23 - Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix

  • Dec. 1 - Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix

  • Dec. 8 - Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What was the fastest pit stop in Formula 1? McLaren sets world record.