No buckling under pressure as Red Bull deliver the DHL Fastest Pit Stop in Abu Dhabi
Red Bull deliver their 13th DHL Fastest Pit Stop of the season in a nerve-wracking season finale in Abu Dhabi. Once again, the mechanics of the Milton Keynes-based team played a key role in Max Verstappen’s performance, as their perfectly executed tire swaps minimized the time the Dutchman lost when coming into the pits.
While each of the three stops they performed on Verstappen’s RB16B were smooth, the first one in particular stood out – it was the fastest tire swap since the new pitstop regulations were introduced: 2.12 seconds marks the fastest tire change since the summer break.
Verstappen started the race on Soft tires, with concerns being voiced about the durability of the compound. He was indeed one of the first drivers to come in for a pitstop after he’d been on the radio, complaining about the decreasing performance of his tires. His mechanics made sure there would be no time lost, removing and bolting on new Hards in 2.12 seconds.
In the end, the team got the ultimate reward for all their hard work as Verstappen crossed the finish line in first place after a late Safety Car allowed him to overtake Hamilton with ease. “To my team, I think they know I love them and I hope we can do this for ten or fifteen years together,” said Verstappen, making the ultimate declaration of love to Red Bull. “There’s no reason to change, ever. I want to stay with them for the rest of my life. I hope they let me.”
