Pit Stop

A pit stop is a brief, planned pause during a race when a vehicle enters a designated service area (the pits) for maintenance, adjustments, or repairs.

During a pit stop, a specialized team called the pit crew performs tasks such as changing tires, refueling (in racing series that permit it), making mechanical adjustments, and sometimes changing drivers in endurance races. These stops are precisely choreographed—Formula 1 pit stops can take less than 2 seconds for a tire change.

Pit stops are crucial to racing strategy. Teams must balance the time lost in the pits against the performance benefits gained. The timing of pit stops, influenced by factors like tire wear, fuel consumption, and weather changes, can determine the outcome of a race.