A special “pit stop” training for Ferrari
Ferrari has set up a specific space where the pit stop teams practice. The goal is to arrive at the start of the Bahrain GP having already completed 1,000 pit stops.
Pit stops are crucial moments in a race. A few seconds lost can easily lead to defeat. Each team sets up and optimizes its own pit stop system, a much more complex task than it seems.
For this purpose, the Scuderia has set up an “operating block” in the building overlooking the Fiorano track. A large space on the ground floor has become the pit area. Here, the scenario faced by the mechanics during the Grand Prix is reproduced.
Everything has been designed so that the exercise is as realistic as possible. Chairs have been set up for the mechanics waiting to intervene, as well as the cables with pneumatic guns at the end and the car lift to lift the car. In one corner is the technicians’ station, where they are called to intervene in case of malfunction.
Ferrari is seeking to improve the efficiency of its crew and has entrusted this task to Diego Loverno, the engineer in charge of the assembly departments.
The goal of this work is to create automatisms in order to avoid any mistakes. “Stops « shorter than 3 seconds are considered very good,” explains Loverno. « Those shorter than 4 seconds are inadequate and those longer than 4.5 seconds are considered failures. »
Ferrari is preparing two teams in order to raise the average level. We have analyzed that the problems arose when we were forced to rotate personnel […]. In some cases, the “reserves” proved to be less prepared than the regular crew. A top-level team aiming for the world title cannot afford to make mistakes. That is why Ferrari is preparing two teams for pit stops: one works in the morning and the other in the afternoon. The hope is to have interchangeable mechanics.
The individuals assigned to tire changing, in addition to their regular mechanic tasks, are required to undergo specific physical training three times a week, under the supervision of a trainer.
Ferrari is currently only fourth in the ranking of teams with the fastest tire changes. We’ll have to wait and see in 2023 if this training will pay off.
