Formula 1®

DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award: FORMULA 1 2018 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX

Key Takeaways

  • Ferrari perform the DHL Fastest Pit Stop of the Belgian GP
  • Race winner Sebastian Vettel is sent on his way in 2.29 seconds
  • Red Bull Racing lead the 2018 DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award

Ferrari return from the summer break in top form, securing not only the race win but also the DHL Fastest Pit Stop in the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.

Ferrari execute the DHL Fastest Pit Stop at Spa

Sebastian Vettel couldn’t have hoped for a better start to the second half of the campaign. The Ferrari driver enjoyed a comfortable victory in the Belgian Grand Prix, cutting the deficit on current world championship leader Lewis Hamilton to 17 points. Vettel made his decisive move shortly after the start, overtaking pole-sitter Hamilton on the Kemmel straight. From that point on, his lead was never in any danger.

A significant contributory factor was the great performance by Vettel’s pit crew. The Ferrari driver came in for his one and only tire change on Lap 22 and was dispatched in 2.29 seconds, a time that secured the Scuderia the DHL Fastest Pit Stop. Hamilton had stopped on the previous lap, hoping to undercut the race leader. The Mercedes driver was sent on his way in 2.79 seconds, and although he closed the gap on Vettel, it was not enough to take the lead.

“The first stint was very close, with only a couple of seconds between us,” said Vettel afterwards. “But then the guys did a fantastic pit-stop, I could not believe the light had turned green so fast, and that gave our rivals no chance. This is a great win for the whole team, and I hope it will be the same at Monza, but we need to keep fighting to be always up there.”

The second-fastest stop of the race was completed by Williams, who serviced Sergey Sirotkin in 2.29 seconds. Third place went to the Sauber team, whose pit crew have returned from the summer break in the same impressive form they have showed so far this season. Marcus Ericsson’s pit stop took 2.45 seconds.

There was a grand total of 21 pit stops at Spa, eleven of which were completed in less than three seconds. Due to the low level of tire wear, most of the contestants opted for a one-stop strategy. Only the drivers who were involved in the first-lap collision pitted more frequently. They included Valtteri Bottas, who stormed to fourth place in a spectacular charge from the rear of grid and clocked the DHL Fastest Lap in the process.

Top 10 pit stops in the FORMULA 1 2018 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX

  1. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) - 2.29s
  2. Sergey Sirotkin (Williams) - 2.32s
  3. Marcus Ericsson (Sauber) - 2.45s
  4. Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso) - 2.47s
  5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 2.55s
  6. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) - 2.62s
  7. Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren) - 2.67s
  8. Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso) - 2.71s
  9. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) - 2.79s
  10. Lance Stroll (Williams) - 2.94s

DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award: Red Bull stay out ahead

Red Bull Racing remain the undisputed leaders in the 2018 DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award. The Bulls are on 331 points, with Ferrari as their closest challenger on 206. Next come Sauber (176), Williams (173) and Mercedes (171).

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