What is the average NASCAR pit stop time compared to F1? All you need to know 

NASCAR and Formula 1 are the most popular disciplines in motorsports. Pit stops hold the power of being a deciding factor in the performance and speed of a car during a race. They eventually also dictate how the leaderboard pans out. The specifics of a pit stop's operation vary from series to series. Formula 1 is known to have lightning-fast pit stops whereas in NASCAR, pit stops are slightly more prolonged.

Let's discuss how and why this happens:

#NASCAR Pit Stop

NASCAR pit stops generally range between 12-16 seconds.

Only 5 mechanics are allowed to go over the pit wall. This includes two tire changers, front and rear, one tire carrier, a jackman, and a feuler. A sixth utility man is also allowed in the pit box but cannot work on the car. They are only allowed to rip off the windshield tear-off and give water bottles to the driver.

William Byron in the #24 pits during the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 [Image courtesy: Getty Images]

The choreography is not as simple as it sounds, It is a symphony of precision. The car needs to come to a complete halt in the pit box. The jackman lifts the right side of the car, and the two tire changers replace the tires. The fueler at the same time, is refueling the car. The same process is repeated on the other side of the car, while carefully avoiding interferences in each other's work. As only five mechanics are allowed to service the car, they are assigned more than one task, and swiftly executing all of the tasks assigned to them dictates the stop time.

Earlier, NASCAR regulations required using five lug nuts to secure each tire. After the introduction of NASCAR's Next-Gen car in 2022, the switch to a one-lug nut policy, similar to Formula 1 made pit stops slightly quicker than before.

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#Formula 1 Pit stop

Formula 1 pit stops are much faster than NASCAR. The average time taken by an F1 pit crew on a pit stop ranges between two to three seconds.

The extremely evident difference in time pertains to two major differences. Firstly, refueling has been banned in Formula 1 since 2010, concerning safety and financial reasons. The other major difference is the number of mechanics allowed to work on the car when it pits.

Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull Racing pits at the F1 Grand Prix of China [Image courtesy: Getty Images]

Formula 1 regulations allow more than 20 people in a pit crew. Each tire has three mechanics working on it, including a tire gunner, a true remover, and a tire carrier. There are four jackmen, two front, and two rear, and two stabilisers on each side of the car. Other than that, there are two members to adjust the front wing, one member to help the driver with his visibility, and one lollipop man. The lollipop man signals for the car to be released.

Having 20 mechanics on your pit crew, all of them only assigned with one specific task harbors efficiency, explaining the average of three seconds for an F1 pit stop. McLaren Racing Limited currently holds the world record for the fastest pit stop at 1.80 seconds, while servicing Lando Norris at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix.

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Irrespective of whether you subscribe to Formula 1 and their sub-2-second pit stop or NASCAR's 5-man,12-second pit stop with refueling, the precision and physicality involved for pit crew members is indisputable. Teams are always thriving for efficiency, making pit stops more quicker and effective.

Understanding the differences between NASCAR and Formula 1, instead of criticizing them helps generate a common appreciation for both disciplines of Motorsport.