Mechanic Synchrony

“In the seven seconds it takes to complete an average Grand Prix pit stop, a driver will get four fresh tires, a tank of fuel, an inspection to remove debris from nooks and crannies, and maybe some shiny new parts to replace any track casualties. It’s a hyperdrive time warp where jobs that might take an afternoon at your local garage are crammed into a few heartbeats. Dozens of mechanics work in choreographed synchrony, while team managers analyze every detail of every task down to hundredths of a second. Wired talked to Red Bull Racing’s own in-house clock watcher, Jonathan Wheatley, to find out what happens during the longest seven seconds in motor sports.”