Pit lane positions of teams
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Hi there. I have a bit of a strange question: how are the garages positions decided ? I mean on what ground does a team get the 1st pitbox, or 14th or last, etc ?
I ask because it seems to me that it can be a bit unfair at times: for instance, if you are the team that occupy the 1st box, it’s much easier for the lollipop man concerning unsafe releases. If you are last on the other hand, you don’t have to avoid the other team’s airgun hoses. Etc, etc…
Do teams get the same spot race after race ?
Is it based on Championship points ?Is it based on Championship points ?
Yes, although whether they run in ascending or descending order from the beginning of the pit lane can vary.
It doesn’t really matter except for the matter of going with less steering into the box. For example, this year, Red Bull were first, so WEB and VET were steering less before stopping (so they were losing less time). But their lollipop man is concerned about unsafe realeases, because there are the people entering the pits. The end of the pitlane is the opposite. You gain time exiting the box (and having quicker and straighter accelaration) but you have to avoid the cars exiting the pits.
Thanks !
I am a bit surprised not to have seen any info on that nowhere.
@the_sigman: yes, I always thought that was a bit unfair…@Ben I’d guess because of the spygate incident with ferrari. eliminating them from the constructors championship. I didn’t watch F1 then though so I don’t know for sure.
Yes, pit garage order is based on WCC standing. As I recall (feel free to correct me here), the top constructor is always nearest to the FIA/FOM trailers. This would explain why the top constructor is sometimes at pit entry and other times at pit exit. A recent exception is Silverstone – the top constructors there end up in the middle of the pit garages as they cannot be seen by the spectators when they are positioned at pit exit (because it’s sloping downward).
@benchuiii They were supposed to be at the last garage post-Spygate (last in 2007 WCC). But they asked for special dispensation to be moved to the middle of the pitlane due to space constraints, to which the FIA agreed. So McLaren were moved to the garage normally occupied by the 5th-placed constructor, with the other constructors getting moved further down accordingly.
@keithcollantine I believe it is the champion team who can choose to be at the start or end of the pitlane. the other teams have to respond accordingly.
If I remember correctly it was Williams that had the garage nearest the pit exit at Silverstone this year.
@robk23 Williams? I think it would be Marussia – the order is (barring special circumstances) decided by WCC standing.
@raymondu999 There’s a picture on F1.com showing Williams at the end of the pit lane.
Piecing this together from a few videos, the order of the garages from the pit exit seemed to be Williams, Toro Rosso, Sauber, Force India, Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull., Caterham, HRT and Marussia.
@robk23 @raymondu999 Silverstone was a one-off special case. the big teams wanted to be at the end of the pit lane but this meant supporters couldnt see them from the stands. a compromise was struck so that the big teams would be put in the middle of the pit lane. Now fans could see their garages from the stand opposite the pitlane.
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