Horner already knows: 'Aren't going to break the world record'
- GPblog.com
Not only have the aerodynamics been shaken up for 2022 in Formula 1, but the wheels have also become a lot bigger. According to Christian Horner, this is therefore the reason why we are unlikely to see a new pit stop record this year.
The times for pit stops had already become a lot slower by the middle of 2021. This is because the FIA introduced a new rule midway through the season, whereby the various crew members must wait for systematic approval before moving on to the next step. This has already made it virtually impossible to break the current fastest pit stop ever, of 1.82 seconds.
And that will be a lot harder in 2022, as the cars will get new 18-inch wheels. "It will definitely have a big impact on pit stops, because the wheels and tires are heavier and bigger. So I think we are not going to break the world record next season," Christian Horner explained during the unveiling of the RB18.
How fast will the pit stops be in 2022?
Still, it doesn't mean that the times of the pit stops will deteriorate tremendously. Initially it will take some getting used to for the teams and the members of the pit crew, but Horner is convinced that Red Bull Racing will still come close to pit stops of two seconds. Even with the bigger tires and wheels.
Jonathan Wheatley, who is responsible for the pit crew, also has confidence in his men. In addition, there will be a lot of practice with the new tyres, because at the moment no team has been able to perform a practice with them yet. In any case, it can once again become an important weapon in the battle for the world championship.