Two-Stop Strategy

A Two-Stop Strategy is a racing plan where a driver makes two scheduled pit stops during a race to change tires and potentially refuel.

This strategy is commonly used in Formula 1, IndyCar, and other motorsports when tire wear is significant or when changing weather conditions demand different tire types. Teams calculate whether the time gained from having fresher, faster tires outweighs the time lost during two pit stops.

For example, a driver might start on soft tires for quick early pace, switch to medium tires during the first stop, then use another set of fresh tires for the final portion of the race. The timing of these stops is crucial and can be affected by safety cars, traffic, and race position.