Pit Stop Fiascos
Pit stops in Formula 1 are supposed to be seamless. But sometimes, even the most seasoned teams have moments where everything goes wrong. So, let’s take a look at the 20 biggest pit stop failures in Formula 1 history—because even in the fastest sport on earth, things don’t always go according to plan.
1. Ferrari's 2019 Abu Dhabi GP
At the 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Ferrari's pit crew bungled Sebastian Vettel's stop, taking too long to change the tires. The delay dropped him from 4th to 7th, leaving him with little chance to recover. This failure highlights how critical pit stop efficiency can be in F1 racing.
2. McLaren's 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix Disaster
McLaren's botched pit stop during the 2013 Malaysian GP is one of the most infamous. Jenson Button left the pit with a loose front-left tire, forcing him to return. That costly error denied him a podium and cost McLaren precious points in the constructors' championship.
https://secure.flickr.com/people/pdbreen/ on Wikimedia
3. Ferrari's 2018 Bahrain Grand Prix Misfire
Ferrari’s 2018 Bahrain Grand Prix was a mix of victory and misfortune. During his second stop, an automatic green light signaled Räikkönen to leave before the left rear tire was removed, causing him to strike mechanic Francesco Cigarini, who suffered serious leg fractures. This is how Räikkönen was forced to retire.
4. Red Bull’s 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix Error
Trouble struck Red Bull in the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix when a wheel nut issue delayed Mark Webber’s pit stop. The glitch cost him valuable seconds during a critical phase of the race, adding tension to an already dramatic afternoon that also featured the infamous "Multi-21" team orders controversy.
5. Williams' 2019 French Grand Prix Pit Fail
Nothing flashy, nothing fixed—that summed up Williams’ 2019 French Grand Prix. George Russell’s pit stop was clean but unremarkable, offering no boost to his performance. He finished 18th, a result that echoed the team’s ongoing struggles with pace throughout the season.
6. Ferrari’s 2008 Singapore Grand Prix Pit Stop
Singapore 2008: Ferrari’s pit stop for Felipe Massa turned disastrous when an early green light sent him off with the fuel hose still attached. The error forced Massa to stop at the end of the pit lane, rejoin last, and finish 13th—ruining his race and title hopes.
7. McLaren's 2008 French Grand Prix Screw-Up
McLaren’s flawed pit strategy undermined Lewis Hamilton’s race, compounding earlier setbacks that included a drive-through penalty. The suboptimal calls from the pit wall disrupted his rhythm, and despite his efforts, Hamilton could only manage a 10th-place finish with no points earned.
Ragnhild Falkenberg on Wikimedia
8. Red Bull’s 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix Mistake
During Mark Webber’s pit stop, Red Bull faced a minor hiccup at a pit stop when a wheel gun issue caused a slight delay. Though the setback cost him a few seconds, it wasn’t race-defining, and Webber still managed to secure a solid fourth-place finish.
9. Red Bull's 2016 Monaco Grand Prix Mishap
Red Bull’s costly 13.6-second pit stop for Daniel Ricciardo, caused by the team not having his tires ready, handed away a likely victory. The delay allowed Lewis Hamilton to seize the lead, leaving Ricciardo visibly frustrated as he settled for second place.
10. Red Bull’s 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix Incident
During the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix, Red Bull’s pit crew made a mistake, slowing Max Verstappen’s tire change. With a pit stop error like this, Verstappen was slowed by 3.5 seconds but still ended up winning the race.
11. Lotus' 2012 German Grand Prix Catastrophe
In the 2012 German Grand Prix, Lotus compromised Kimi Räikkönen’s race with a suboptimal pit stop that cost him key time. Despite showing a strong pace throughout the event, the delay hindered his ability to battle for a podium, resulting in a fifth-place finish that fell short of expectations.
Play Among Friends Paf on Wikimedia
12. Ferrari’s 2017 Austrian Grand Prix Slip-up
A minor delay during Sebastian Vettel’s pit stop hampered Ferrari’s momentum in the 2017 Austrian Grand Prix. Though the stop wasn’t disastrous, the lost time proved costly in a tightly contested race, ultimately contributing to Vettel finishing second instead of mounting a stronger challenge for the win.
13. Mercedes’ 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix Mess-up
Strategy missteps marred Mercedes’ approach in the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix, particularly for Lewis Hamilton. A suboptimal pit call prevented him from fully capitalizing on his pace, though he impressively recovered from a pit lane stop to finish third.
14. Ferrari’s 2015 Hungarian Grand Prix Mistake
A delay during Sebastian Vettel’s pit stop cost Ferrari valuable time in the 2015 Hungarian Grand Prix. The mishap affected Vettel’s momentum in a race filled with unexpected turns, ultimately limiting him to a 3rd-place finish despite showing strong pace throughout the event.
15. McLaren’s 2013 Australian Grand Prix Fiasco
McLaren’s 2013 Australian Grand Prix was a tale of tire-gun woe. The tire changers struggled with a slow pit stop that left Lewis Hamilton in the dust. Hence, he couldn’t make up the time lost in the pits, which contributed to his 9th-place finish.
kevinmcgill from Den Bosch, Netherlands on Wikimedia
16. Ferrari’s 2007 Hungarian Grand Prix Error
Ferrari faced a setback when a fuel rig issue during Felipe Massa’s pit stop caused a brief fire. Though quickly extinguished, the incident delayed Massa and compromised his race strategy, ultimately limiting his chances for a stronger finish that day.
Jeff Wunrow from Minneapolis, MN, USA on Wikimedia
17. Red Bull’s 2014 Chinese Grand Prix Bottleneck
A combination of poor timing and a mechanical issue led to a slow tire change, putting Ricciardo behind the pack. In a season where Red Bull was fighting for every point, this was a mistake they couldn’t afford, and it ended up with Riccardo at his 4th-place finish.
18. Sauber’s 2014 Australian Grand Prix Fumble
In the 2014 Australian Grand Prix, Sauber endured a frustrating start to the season with a double retirement. Reliability issues plagued both cars, as Adrian Sutil retired with a mechanical failure while Esteban Gutierrez was sidelined by gearbox problems.
19. 2016 Austrian Grand Prix Struggle
Force India’s race was hindered by a delayed pit stop for Nico Hulkenberg, which contributed to his disappointing 19th-place finish. Despite showing early promise in qualifying, the pit lane setback disrupted his race rhythm and dropped him out of points contention.
20. Toro Rosso’s 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix Breakdown
Malaysia’s heat was brutal, but Toro Rosso’s troubles were hotter. Max Verstappen, charging hard, rolled in for fresh rubber—only to sit helplessly as the team scrambled for the right tires. However, the pit stop didn’t prevent his 7th-place finish.
