Why the huge pit crew?

steviec

This is something that annoyed me during the Australian Grand Prix - now that there's just refueling there's not nearly so many people necessary at a pitstop, but the teams dont seem to have adjusted at all. Fair enough there need to be people cleaning out the sidepods and to change tyre pressure if necessary, but teams seemed to have three people per wheel just assigned to looking at it, and there was even a mechanic at the front with a jack for lifting the car up which he holds at the front but never actually lifts because its not necessary. It doesn't seem like the most efficient way to do things to me...

Töpher

Yeah, it would only be essential to have that many in changing weather coniditions to throw on wets or something. Be pretty sweet to get paid to do nothing though!

MickFarr

They do have other jobs!

Creamy Goodness

with these new tyre rules, are they allowed change if it starts to rain?

dearg_doom

All the extra lads are needed, if one of the tyres is damaged, to a dangerous degree, the team is allowed to change the tyre.

But the team won't know for sure if they have to or not until they can inspect it after it has stopped in the pits.

So it could be a split-second decision.

dinjo

the lads in the pits have a very important job to do..... they are they to change the tyre's, the decision could be made while the cars have just stopped so they have to be there for that.if the car isn't going to change tyre's, its pointless having them sitting in the garage when they could be inspecting the car, just incase somebody fails to spot something

Jonny Arson

It was absolutely ridiculous having 20 people surround a car in a pit stop doing nothing. The FIA should bring in a rule allowing 6 people attend a car during a pit stop in the same fashion as they do in NASCAR, IRL and Champ Car. It will make pit stops safer.

MrPudding

Zane from MTV2 wrote:

It was absolutely ridiculous having 20 people surround a car in a pit stop doing nothing.

Why? What if a tyre needs changed? They are there to check the tyres. If one is damaged they can call for a new one, by the time it arrives the old one will be off. Seems pretty sensible.

As for safety, I agree, less people on the pit lane would be safer. But, the number of accidents is so small that you would have to questions if it would be worth it.

MrP

sparkthatbled

they also adjust tyre pressures during pit stops to give the tyre's extra grip or longer life