F1 pit stop record: Top 10 fastest pit stops in Formula 1

F1 pit stop record: Top 10 fastest pit stops in Formula 1

Claudia Kogi
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:23 PM

Having recorded a 1.82-second pit stop in 2019 while driving for the Red Bull team, the Belgian-Dutch racing car driver Max Verstappen holds the record for the fastest Formula 1 pit stops of all time. Will it still stand as the F1 pit stop record in 2023? If so, has it ever been broken?

DHL fastest pit stop record
Valtteri Bottas driving the Alfa Romeo F1 C42 Ferrari in the Pitlane during the F1 Grand Prix of Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on 4 September 2022 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. Photo: Dan Mullan
Source: Getty Images

Formula 1 is arguably one of the most popular and valuable sports in the world. These skills are considered paramount in Formula 1 pit stops: teamwork, communication and coordination to maximise success. Who recorded the fastest time ever in the pit stop?

What is the world's fastest pit stop?

Aside from being categorised among the richest sports in the world, it has become the most followed sport in the world, with numerous fans emerging from different parts of the world. According to various online sources, here are some of the fastest pit stop records since inception.

10. Michael Schumacher

F1 pit stop record as of 2023
Michael Schumacher during the Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix Ice Gala 2005 at Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo: Jun Sato
Source: Getty Images
  • Team: Ferrari
  • Stop time: 8 seconds
  • Year: 2006

During the 1994/2009 era, refuelling still took around 6 to 12 seconds maximum but every 67 seconds like during the 1950s. When it comes to Michael Schumacher, he made a stop to refuel his car at 0:29 seconds and started at the 0:37 second mark, utilising exactly 8 seconds in 2006.

9. Ayrton Senna

  • Stop time: 4.81 seconds
  • Team: McLaren
  • Year: 1993
World's record fastest pit stop
Ayrton Senna driver of the Toleman Group Motorsport Toleman TG183B Hart S4 turbo during practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix on 24 March 1984 in Brazil. Photo: Grand Prix Photo
Source: Getty Images

Ayrton Senna is a Brazilian legend remembered in 1993 for a tire change, and four seconds later, he exited. Senna and his crew wanted to get the fastest-ever pit stops in Formula 1, but they did not accomplish the goal then.

8. Valtteri Bottas

  • Stop time: 2.36 seconds
  • Team: Mercedes
  • Year: 2017
F1 pit stop record as of 2023
Valtteri Bottas talks to the media in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on 27 October 2022 in Mexico City, Mexico. Photo: Chris Graythen
Source: Getty Images

Bottas from Mercedes had an incredible and fastest pit stop in Formula 1. Although his team wanted much fewer seconds, they managed a pit stop in less than 3 seconds which was a record to them. The team believed that they could go faster after successfully trying to improve their communication during the race. As of January 2023, Bottas has ten wins.

7. Lewis Hamilton

  • Stop time: 2.31 seconds
  • Team: Mercedes
  • Year: 2012
Fastest pit stop record
Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and Great Britain during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on 27 October 2022 in Mexico City, Mexico. Photo: Peter J Fox
Source: Getty Images

For starters, Lewis Hamilton is one of the highest-paid athletes. The wealthy car racer made a memorable end after he accidentally went into the McLaren pit and managed to get one of the fastest pit stops of all time, recording 2.31 seconds.

6. Kimi Raikkonen

  • Stop time: 2.20 seconds
  • Team: Ferrari
  • Year: 2018
World's record fastest pit stop
Kimi's portrait during the Formula 1 Winter Tests at Circuit de Barcelona - Catalunya on 19 February 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. Photo: Xavier Bonilla
Source: Getty Images

Kimi Raikkonen rose to stardom following his hit on the 2.20 seconds mark in 2018. Consequently, his performance was considered rare. One intriguing thing was that during the race, his opponent stayed out on the track, and the car racer entered the pit lane and took the lead for the first time.

5. Sebastian Vettel

  • Stop time: 1.97 seconds
  • Team: Ferrari
  • Year: 2018
What is the world's fastest pit stop
Sebastian Vettel of Germany talks to the media in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of USA at Circuit of The Americas on 20 October 2022 in Austin, Texas. Photo: Chris Graythen
Source: Getty Images

Sebastian is one of the highest-paid race-car drivers of all time. On his first pit stop on Lap 27, new tyres were installed in a time of 1.97 seconds, changing the whole season in less than two seconds. Vettel and the team achieved one of the fastest pit stops in Formula 1 with unforgettable coordination and later won four world championships.

4. Mark Webber

  • Stop time: 1.923 seconds
  • Team: Red Bull
  • Year: 2013
New f1 pit stop record
Mark Webber attends the Louis Vuitton SEE LV exhibition opening on 3 November 2022 in Sydney, Australia. Photo: Don Arnold
Source: Getty Images

Mark Webber, an Australian-based retired professional racing driver, competed in Formula 1 from 2002 to 2013 and the FIA World Endurance Championship between 2014 and 2016. His fame skyrocketed following his race with Sebastian Vettel, driver of Red Bull Racing when he stopped after the 29th lap in 1.923 seconds.

3. Felipe Massa

  • Stop time: 1.92 seconds
  • Team: Williams
  • Year: 2016

If there was one time Williams Formula 1 witnessed one of F1's fastest pit stop records, it was during the Grand Prix of Europe, when the pit crew replaced tires in historical time. Felipe's team achieved fine art precision after Felipe Massa reached their pit box within 1.92 seconds.

2. Pierre Gasly

  • Stop time: 1.91 seconds
  • Team: Red Bull
  • Year: 2019
Fastest pit stop record
Formula 1 French driver Pierre Gasly takes part in the Qatar Fashion United by CR Runway held at the 974 Stadium in Doha, on December 16, 2022. Photo; Giuseppe Cacae
Source: Getty Images

Pierre from Red Bull took the shortest possible time. Upon completion, his teammates were the heroes of the day, and Pierre drove away in just 1.91 seconds. It later became record-breaking and a great achievement for him and his team. Pierre Gasly's coordination and swift performance brought about reactions from his fans, supporters, and management as he had recorded such good performances.

1. Max Verstappen

  • Stop time: 1.82 seconds
  • Team: Red Bull
  • Year: 2019

The holder of the world's record for the fastest pit stop, Max Verstappen, is renowned as Formula 1's best guru of all time. He became the centre of attention when he passed Lewis Hamilton twice on the circuit to secure his eighth F1 victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix in November 2019.

Max Verstappen has become a sought-after personality to the point that the only name that comes to mind is Verstappen whenever the sport is mentioned. To date, no one has managed to beat his 1.82-second record.

One specific thing about the F1 pit stop record is that it requires more than just stopping, changing tyres, and accelerating away. Some of the skills that really matter are absolute precision, split-second decisions, perfect teamwork and much more.

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Authors
Claudia Kogi photo
Claudia Kogi
Claudia Kogi is a Kenyan content creator with over 3 years of experience. Claudia joined Sportsbrief.com as a writer in January 2022, covering sports and relatable content.