DHL FASTEST PIT STOP AWARD

Alpine shrug off scorching heat at Monza to execute their first DHL Fastest Pit Stop for Esteban Ocon

Formula 1’s mechanics had a real tough time in the 2024 Italian GP with air temperatures of 34 degrees and track temps of over 50 degrees initially, which put them under huge pressure on Sunday as they went about the business of changing tires. To everyone’s surprise, the team that did best had until now not managed to set a single DHL Fastest Pit Stop so far this year.

With a great time of 2.01 seconds on lap 31, Alpine’s mechanics did their best to help Esteban Ocon in a tricky race by delivering the DHL Fastest Pit Stop. The two tire changes for teammate Pierre Gasly (2.35 and 2.47 seconds) were also excellent.

But it was all to no avail. The car’s performance on the track at Monza was lackluster. Ocon’s attempt to implement a hard-medium strategy came to nothing. He told us: “I was struggling with the tires towards the end of the first stint, so maybe medium-hard would have worked better in hindsight.”

Gasly was given the alternative of two stops, which was just as unsuccessful. Ocon took P14, Gasly P15. “With both cars finishing within six seconds of each other, there was not much more we could have done today,” said team boss Oliver Oakes. “Ultimately, we lacked the pace today to fight for points.”

McLaren took big points in the battle for the DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award with the second and third fastest stops, but Red Bull and Mercedes were also quick off the mark, so the overall standings remain unchanged, even though McLaren has reduced the gap to Ferrari’s mechanics in second place to 43 points.