F1’s quickest pit stop is McLaren’s 1.80-second tyre change
McLaren holds F1’s quickest pit-stop record: 1.80 seconds for Lando Norris in Qatar in 2023. Learn what the time measures and the 2026 benchmark.
The quickest recorded Formula 1 pit stop is 1.80 seconds, achieved by McLaren for Lando Norris at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix. It took place at Lusail International Circuit on 8 October 2023 and remains the listed world record as of 25 October 2026. Guinness World Records lists McLaren as the holder.
That figure measures the car’s stationary tyre-change stop—not its entire journey through the pit lane, and not the total race time lost by pitting.
Which record did McLaren beat?
McLaren completed the record stop on lap 27. The crew improved on the previous benchmark of 1.82 seconds, set by Red Bull for Max Verstappen at the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix. The published times differ by 0.02 seconds, or 20 milliseconds. Formula 1’s report confirms both stops.
The distinction matters when older lists name Red Bull as the record holder: 1.82 seconds was the benchmark before McLaren’s Qatar stop. This was a tyre change during a Grand Prix, rather than a practice or demonstration attempt.
What does a 1.80-second pit stop measure?
Formula 1 explains that the DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award uses stationary times. It assesses the service at the pit box, rather than how quickly a driver travels from pit entry to pit exit. F1’s pit-stop anatomy guide describes the metric and the crew’s sequence.
| Timing term | What it measures | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Stationary stop time | Time stopped at the pit box | The metric behind McLaren’s 1.80-second record |
| Pit-lane time | Travel through the pit lane, including the stop | Includes much more than the tyre change |
| Pit-stop time loss | Time lost compared with continuing around the circuit | The relevant comparison for race strategy |
A 1.80-second service therefore does not mean Norris lost only 1.80 seconds against a rival who stayed on track.
The crew can work so quickly because the four wheel changes happen in parallel. Each corner has a wheel-gunner, a person removing the old wheel and a person fitting the replacement; front and rear jack operators lift and lower the car. The driver also needs to stop accurately on the marks. Before release, the crew chief checks wheel confirmations and whether there is room to exit safely. F1 details these roles.
What is the quickest stop of 2026 so far?
In DHL’s published 2026 season ranking, checked on 25 October 2026, the quickest stop is 1.99 seconds, achieved by Racing Bulls for Arvid Lindblad in Hungary. That is a season-leading performance, not a new all-time record. DHL’s season table lists the team, driver, event and time.
F1’s race-by-race award results through Singapore also list Hungary’s 1.99 seconds as the lowest winning time. Fastest at one race, fastest in a season and fastest ever are different claims.