Formula 1 pit crew members play a crucial role during a Grand Prix weekend and can make or break their team’s performance and result. To perfect the driver pit stops, the crew practices them multiple times during a race weekend, especially during the free practice sessions.
Thus, every top team needs to financially keep their pit members happy, as they surely have a big differential during a race. They make one error, and any top team can lose a race or the title.
Red Bull is the undisputed king of insane pit stops and holds the Guinness World Record for the same. During the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix, the Red Bull pit crew executed the pit stop of Max Verstappen in an astonishing 1.82 seconds.
F1 Pit Crew Members Salary 2023
| Pit Crew Member | Per Race | Annual Salary | Race winning bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crew Chief | $10,000 | $1 Million | $5,000 |
| Refueling Person | $5,000 | $350,000 | $2,500 |
| Tyre Changers | $5,000 | $350,000 | $2,500 |
| Tyre Carriers | $3,500 | $270,000 | $2,500 |
| Jack Men | $3,000 | $150,000 | $500 |
| Wing Men | $3,000 | $150,000 | $500 |
| Stabilizer | $2,500 | $90,000 | $250 |
| Starter Man | $750 | $40,000 | $250 |
| Fire Extinguisher Man | $500 | $30,000 | $250 |
Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes are the teams that spend the most on their pit crews and ensure that they provide them with the best equipment.
The Milton-Keynes-based team spends an estimated $5 Million on their pit crew staff during the season. Meanwhile, Ferrari spends an estimated $10 Million on their staff.
Also read Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff unimpressed with Valtteri Bottas despite pit stop blunder
What are the different roles of F1 pit crew members?
| Pit Crew Member | Role |
|---|---|
| Crew Chief | Crew Chief, as the name suggests, is the boss of the pit crew. He is the one issuing orders and coordinating between the crew members. |
| Refueling Person | The refuelling person does an important job of refuelling the car. |
| Tyre Changers | This sub-team comprises four members responsible for putting on one fresh tyre. |
| Tyre Carriers | For each tyre, two tyre carriers assist the tyre changers in replacing the old tyres with new ones. |
| Jack Men | 2 jack men use a lever to lift the car and bring it down right after the pit stop procedure is completed. |
| Wing Men | Wingmen perform the task of adjusting the front wing angle. |
| Stabilizer | Two pit crew members stabilise the car from left, right, and centre. |
| Fire Extinguisher Man | Last but definitely not least, the fireman is on emergency standby to douse the fire in case of an outbreak |
How to be a pit crew member?
One of the important things to know is that apart from the crew chief, none of the team’s roles is a full-time job. It means that the pit crew members also have other roles in the team.
Many members are mechanics, truck drivers, engine fitters, and more. Thus, at times, finding advertisements for the pit crew member job vacancy is hard to find.
But as a pit crew member, one needs to have a solid foundation of automotive knowledge and will need to complete a pit crew training course.
Coming to education, one needs to enrol in a pit crew training program. Many institutions offer a hands-on education that will prepare you for a fulfilling career. A focus on STEM subjects will serve you well in this career field.
Is there any course to become an F1 pit crew member?
Now, with Formula 1 being more advanced than ever, professional institutions can certify a person to work with a respectable motorsport team. On the Pitstop podcast, Red Bull crew member Calum Nicholas revealed when he was trying to seek a career in motorsport, he got enrolled in National College for Motorsport, which is in Silverstone, after his friend told him about it.
Though, he was 21 when he joined. Others even started studying there at 17. Therefore, one doesn’t need to be in their 20s to be eligible for this course.
Considering England is considered the hub of Formula 1, it would have advanced training for jobs that are very crucial in an F1 team. Nicholas revealed when he first joined that institute; it only took 60 students. But since then, numbers have only grown, and more applications are accepted.
Apart from England, Germany and Italy have a rich motorsport history, and similar institutes could also exist there. So, the opportunities to become a pit crew member are vast with an increased number of pit members needed after an increase in races in recent years.
Also read: F1 Marshalls: How to become a Formula 1 Marshall, what are the roles available?
