Red Bull Formula 1 team is known for breaking various records. The team has been the fastest in performing pit-stop maneuvers and has been one of the best Formula one teams. Red Bull Formula 1 team performed a pit stop inside a Russian plane which is used for training cosmonauts.
Formula one is a type of race which requires to keep the car functioning on race tracks rather than losing time on a pit lane. The crew works like a smooth Swiss watch. Everything should be precisely done in accordance with time. If any one of the crew members slack a little, then the whole timing will be wrong resulting in losing time which had to be spend on tracks.
Check out the video where the red bull team does the zero gravity tyre change!
Well the team had decided that they would do something different for a change and hence chose zero-gravity pit-stop. Mark Willis, a Red Bull Racing support team coordinator stated that the team thought it would be the same as changing tyres with gravity. However, it was a completely new experience for them.
Also See:Why Are Formula One Tyres Filled With Nitrogen?
The crew basically was first made to adjust to the zero gravity conditions. the crew spent their first few trials learning how to be stable in Zero gravity conditions. Every simple movement is different without the presence of gravity. It was mentioned that if they stood up with energy, then they were thrown to the sealing so they had to make sure that every movement was right. The 14 crew members which was downsized from 20, took seven flights with a dozen of up and down cycles to get adjusted.
The next challenge that they had to face was figuring out how to use their tools to remove lug nuts and change tyres. In a normal pit stop, pneumatic wrench is used to remove the single lug nut and another crew member mounts on the fresh tyre and the gunner fits the lug nut back on.
On the plane, the wheel gunners had to hold on steady. without gravity there was no need to lift the car. The ability to float also helped them access the space above them where the tyre started floating. The utilisation of space allowed the gunners to have space to remove the lug nut.
Also See:The History Of Formula 1 Tyres Explained
The were able to change the tyres in zero gravity but it took longer time than the standard time of changing tyres. Willis added that it took longer time and the team was not able to move faster because for some reason, their bodies worked in slow motion.
The team stated that it was a new experience for them than the routine traditional tyre changing maneuver. Red Bull has been actively participating in such activities proving the human capabilities in extreme conditions.
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Image Source: Denis Klero/Red Bull
