Autosport has released some interesting figures from (...ehem) Mercedes GP who claim that the fastest average times of the two outfits for every standard tyre change stop are equal. Red bull also hold the fastest single time from 8 races and the fastest average time from 9 races this season but overall it seems Mercedes have matched them. The data is calculated by using only pitstop data from normal tyre changes, so no: safety car stops or when a car is damaged and was repaired The list in full from Autosport/Mercedes: Average cumulative total for pitstop times from 17 races held so far this year relative to fastest overall time: 1= Red Bull Racing Best 1= Mercedes GP Best 3 McLaren + 0.3s 4 Force India + 0.4s 5 Ferrari + 0.5s 6 Renault + 0.9s 7 Williams + 1.1s 8= Lotus + 1.3s 8= Sauber + 1.3s 8= Toro Rosso + 1.3s 11 Virgin + 1.6s 12 HRT + 3.2s and... Fastest overall stops from 17 races: Red Bull Racing 8 Mercedes GP 7 McLaren 1 Ferrari 1 Fastest average stops from 17 races: Red Bull Racing 9 Mercedes GP 5 McLaren 2 Force India 1 Some interesting data here, which shows Force India, Mercedes and Lotus/Caterham punching above their championship weight, and in F1 every tenth helps!
Some interesting stuff here Bright. I'd no idea Team Green Lotus with a yellow stripe had done so well, although I was aware of Mercedes doing nearly as good a job as Red Bull. As you say, every tenth helps. All teams need to minimise time spent standing still; but this becomes ever more relevant towards the sharp end of the grid where things are naturally more competitive. Obviously Ferrari and McLaren need to work on this. McLaren in particular have been very sloppy over the past few years.
I would say that this pretty much confirms what we all thought. McLaren seem to be there or there about, but drop the ball every so often. Ferrari do always seem a little slower than Red Bull or McLaren but we don't often see Mercedes or Force India on TV.
The fast stops will no doubt help Mercedes when they get in front of a Ferrari or McLaren and they wish to stay ahead through the stops.
They're pretty handy in a straight line so if they can somehow get in front then they usually do a good job of staying there (damn them )
Yeah you are right about that (Monza) - What do you think about their chances of a decent result in Abu Dhabi?
They should be fairly decent, I'd have them for somewhere between 5th and 8th. Fast enough to pick up any pieces if it goes all wrong at the front anyway
