DHL FASTEST PIT STOP AWARD

DHL Fastest Pit Stop affords Ferrari some small consolation after disqualification in China

Ferrari had delivered the two fastest pit stops at the season opener in Australia and the Scuderia’s pit crew were back on form in China with another excellent performance. Charles Leclerc made his first and last pit stop on lap 15. He had damaged his front wing in a contact with teammate Lewis Hamilton earlier at the start, but Ferrari decided not to change it when he came in.

So, his mechanics only needed 2.05 seconds to swap from medium to hard tires, since the front wing on Leclerc’s car was left with the damage the Frenchman had sustained at the start in that contact with teammate Lewis Hamilton. “It was a normal racing incident” said Leclerc. “The damaged front cost me 30 downforce points.” As the front wing was left untouched, Ferrari’s crew were almost 0.3 seconds faster in China than they had been in Australia where Leclerc’s pit stop had taken just 2.32 seconds despite the tough conditions.

The second-fastest pit stop in China of 2.08 seconds for Racing Bull’s driver Yuki Tsunoda was just as impressive. Red Bull Racing ran them a close third with the team’s mechanics completing their work on Max Verstappen’s car in 2.15 seconds.

However, Charles Leclerc’s fastest pit stop and his magnificent charge up the field went unrewarded in Shanghai, as both Ferraris were disqualified post race.