The F1 Qatar GP last weekend set a new record for tire change time. The achievement belonged to the McLaren racing team on lap 27, when driver Lando Norris entered the technical area (pit stop) to change tires.
Compared to the old record of 1.82 seconds in 2019 by the Red Bull team, the new record is also impressive with the racing tires being a new type (according to regulations from 2020), larger and heavier than the tires in 2019.
In 2023, the dry and minimum weight of the entire F1 racing car will reach 798 kg, an increase of 2 kg compared to 2022 due to technical regulations, including the 18-inch Pirelli tire. Normally, each racing tire weighs about 9-11 kg.
F1 racing tires are mounted on the axle with a single central nut, not the 5-petal type commonly seen on civilian cars. The torque wrench is also specially designed to fit, ensuring a quick tire change.
The above achievement beat the Red Bull racing team’s record in 2019 with 1.82 seconds. Notably, McLaren’s support team also received more praise because after 2022, F1 racing wheels are larger and heavier than before.
The tires on F1 racing cars are attached to the axle with a single nut, located in the center, unlike the type with 5 nuts like on civil cars. The torque wrench is also specially made to fit, helping the tire change time to be as fast as possible.
In addition to the achievements of the support team, McLaren has also been attracting attention in recent races. After a not-so-good start, the team has recovered quickly, with two consecutive podiums in the last two races.