The Formula 2 switches to electric guns for tire changes
Since the beginning of the Formula 2 season, the mechanics have been equipped for the first time with electric wheel guns instead of pneumatic ones. The CEO of F2 explains that this change is beneficial for several reasons.
It is a small revolution in the Formula 2 paddock. Since this season, teams have been equipped with electric guns, replacing the traditional pneumatic guns, the result of lengthy consultation between the governing body and the teams. Several reasons are given to justify this change.
The CEO of Formula 2, Bruno Michel, first explains this change for ecological reasons: « The main reason for this change is to make the pit lane much cleaner than it was before and, in doing so, much safer », he explains. He adds that the equipment related to pneumatic guns was very bulky: « If you look at all the equipment that the teams had in the pit lane, there were so many things with the air bottles, the gantries, and everything necessary for these old wheel guns. Now, we have made things much simpler and much safer ».
Another argument put forward by the head of F2: cost. Pneumatic guns represented a certain cost in teams’ budgets, both for transportation and maintenance: « With pneumatic guns, the initial costs were high and teams had to also pay for their maintenance. The maintenance cost of these guns was the same as buying new electric guns. That makes a huge difference », says Bruno Michel. By getting rid of them, teams are freeing themselves from a significant burden: « We are getting rid of 100 to 200 kg of freight, as the new electric guns are much lighter than the gantry and all the previous equipment ».
For Bruno Michel, adopting an electric wheel gun represents a slight loss of time during pit stops, but with improved consistency. A pit stop using electric wheel guns in F2 will be a few tenths of a second slower than using pneumatic guns, but the consistency of the pit stop is better with the electric wheel gun.
The new pistols are therefore lighter and easier to use, which makes pit stops more consistent for the teams, says the head of F2. He adds that the introduction of these electric pistols in no way takes away from the on-track spectacle while pushing technological boundaries: “When we can make changes that are heading in the right direction in terms of technology and can reduce the costs that teams have to bear, it’s the right step. We have always been very effective at doing things like that. We are evolving,” concludes Bruno Michel.
