Strategies play such an important role in Formula 1, and in most races you’ll find the most common pit stop strategy is for each driver to make two stops to change tyres. This will differ depending on the condition of the racetrack, the conditions of the tyre, the weather, and in-race competitive impacts such as driver position and whether or not to utilise an undercut or overcut.
Importance of Formula 1 pit stop strategy
Although there is no longer the need to put fuel in the cars during pit stops, a pit stop is more than just changing the tyres of the cars during the race. They offer a chance to repair damage to cars, they are a crucial strategic tool where an undercut or overcut can be used to get ahead of direct rivals on track without the need to overtake, and a pit stop can also be used strategically in cases where a pit stop penalty must be served, taking the punishment during a regulation stop to minimise damage.
Three stop strategies in sport and games
Strategy plays an important part in many different sports and games, not just in Formula 1. There are not that many where you can see a game or sport split into three sections though. One place you can find this is with some online slots and other online casino games, such as Triple Stop Mermaids, where the aim is to match at least 3 adjacent symbols to find a winning combo. The game has a 95.48% RTP and medium volatility. In sport, ice hockey has matches that are split into three, 20-minute periods, which is much different to either two halves or four quarters as most top level team sports are split. Another sport that sees three sections is tennis, with the best of three sets the standard (apart from best of five sets for male players at the four major open tournaments each year).
Examples of successful one and three pit stop strategies
Let’s take a look at two examples that showcase the extremes of one and three stop strategies in Formula 1. Both are from German drivers who are legends of the sport and have multiple world championships, Sebastien Vettel and Michael Schumacher. With intensity, the best driving skills of their respective eras, and great strategy, both these examples show what is possible when everything comes together against the opponents, challenging tracks, and weather conditions.
Schumacher at the 1998 Hungarian Grand Prix
Michael Schumacher was a true master of the track, capable of winning in any situation, and in this specific race it showcased one of the best partnerships in the history of Formula 1, with a legendary strategy from the Ferrari Technical director, Ross Brawn, as he came up with the best way for Schumacher to overcome the McLaren drivers. Overtaking was a difficult prospect at the Hungaroring, and Brawn decided that a two-stop pit strategy wasn’t enough, instead opting for a brave three-stop strategy. What this would require from Schumacher though was 19 laps of qualifying pace, right on the edge, intense driving. He came in for his second stop on lap 46 and as he sat there for 6.8 seconds, Brawn delivered a famous line; “Michael, you have 10 laps to pull out 25 seconds. We need 19 qualifying laps from you”. All Schumacher replied was “Thank you”, and away he went. McLaren stuck with a two-stop strategy for Hakkinen and Coulthard, and Schumacher managed to put in one of the performances of the entire history of the sport. In fact, by the time he came out after stop three, he was ahead in P1 and won the race by 9.4 seconds.
Vettel at the 2010 Italian Grand Prix
Another legendary driver, Vettel went into the Italian Grand Prix at Monza with a two-stop strategy that would include an initial stop around lap 14-15. The Red Bull Driver ended up with a different race altogether though, staying out until lap 52! It was a strategy that worked perfectly, with the German working his way up on a good pace, finding himself in seventh during the early part of the race. The soft compound tyres lost little grip, so he continued for as long as he could, taking Hulkenberg and Kubica with ease but then coming up close to Rosberg and Webber in the Mercedes and other Red Bull car respectively. Rosberg got stuck in traffic and had Webber right behind him, which allowed Vettel to make his obligatory pit stop and come out ahead. Although this wasn’t a victory, the strategy brought him a fourth-placed finish and in the end, he would win the first of his four world championships that season, and only by four points so the Italian Grand Prix was an important part of that overall victory.
Qatar 2023 and the forced three-stop strategy
Pit stops play a vital part in the strategy of every driver and team in Formula 1. With so many variables for the track, teams, and individuals, at every single race, this is where race strategists make their money. At the Qatar Grand Prix in 2023, there was a worry from the authorities and tyre manufacturers about the extreme weather conditions and contact between the tyres and the kerb. Safety measures were implemented that allowed for a maximum of only 18 laps per tyre stint, which every team had to adhere to. It meant that the tyres were not a problem in the end, despite the intense heat, but it turned the Grand Prix into a timed rally that wasn’t the best on the eye for the customers, and Max Verstappen won yet another race on his way to a third world title last season.
Pit stops play an important part in the strategy and intrigue of Formula 1. Do you go for a one stop or a triple stop? There are pros and cons to each, depending on many different race factors, and as you can see there are some prime examples of both being very successful for some of the greatest drivers of all time.