An F1 Mechanic Reveals the High-Stakes Pressures of a Race Day Pit Stop

Inside the Pressures of Being an F1 Mechanic Getty Images / Aston Martin "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links. " IF YOU’VE BEEN to a F1 race, possibly above the garages in the Paddock Club, or watched a season of Drive to Survive , you know that the pit stops can be just as exciting as the laps on the track during the 305-kilometer contest. The pit crew’s ability to swap out four specialized Pirelli tires and fill a gas tank in a matter of seconds is critical to the team’s success in a super-competitive sport where each second, even millisecond, matters.

During these stops, an explosion of kinetic movement occurs in a situation that could easily turn chaotic; these crews demonstrate precision and a high level of performance. Red Bull Racing earned the DHL Pit Stop Award in both 2023 and 2024; F1 gearbox technician Andy Rush was a member of the acclaimed crew both of those years. This season, he’s with Aston Martin , returning to the team after three seasons, 54 races, and 32 team wins with Red Bull.

As fans of the sport know, drivers, tech, and office staff are all known to change teams often in the traveling circus that is F1. What never changes is the pursuit of speed and excellence. When it seems like the attention and pressure couldn’t grow anymore, Apple has stepped in to make watching races more accessible and are already developing a sequel to last year’s box office hit F1 , starring Brad Pitt.

Back at his hotel after a full day of prepping for the weekend’s race, Rush spoke with Men’s Health about what it’s like to work in the paddock and a few tips if you want to change your tires like a F1 pit mechanic. Aston Martin’s pit crew in action. Aston Martin MEN’S HEALTH: What is required to succeed in doing a sub-2-second pit stop?