In the recent Singapore Grand Prix, Mercedes made a surprising acknowledgment: some team members in charge of the pitstops had not performed a race stop in the last 15 years. This situation arises from the complicated schedule of the 2026 season, which has led teams to face demanding triple-headers.
The Asian circuit was the first of the three consecutive races planned, a sequence marked by logistical and physical difficulties. Despite this adversity, Mercedes excelled as the best team in the pitstop race, achieving the fastest stop for two consecutive weeks.
The championship leader, Kimi Antonelli, finished the triple-header without victories, but increased his lead over teammate and current second place driver, George Russell, from 81 to 102 points. Ferrari, however, has maintained a considerable distance in the constructors’ standings, with a disadvantage of 134 points.
After the recent races, the team’s deputy director, Bradley Lord, stated that while the goal is the constructors’ championship title, the priority is to maintain operational efficiency in the extreme heat and humidity conditions of Singapore.
Lord emphasized that the performance of the pitstop team, despite the incorporation of personnel with little recent experience, has been exceptional. ‘The fact that we are achieving quick stops under these conditions is a testament to the high operational level of the entire team,’ he said.
In total, Mercedes has excelled in pit stops, having achieved the fastest tire change in eight of the 17 races contested so far. In contrast, Ferrari and Audi are next with three fastest stops each, while the new team Cadillac has had a more discreet performance, standing out in few instances throughout the season.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
