What Are The Pit Boards In Formula 1?

Pit boards in Formula 1 are handheld display panels that teams use to show the driver the key race info as they pass the pit straight. Each board is pushed through a gap in the pit wall and held out for a split second every lap so the driver has a fast visual reference without having to use the radio.

Despite modern data systems and real-time telemetry, pit boards are still used today as a backup. They are simple, consistent and easy to scan at high speed on the pit straight. Teams customise the layout for each driver, showing position, gap to other cars, lap count or pit instructions.

What is a Formula 1 pit board used for?

A Formula 1 pit board is used to give the driver quick, essential information each time they pass the pit straight. It serves as a visual reference that reinforces or replaces radio messages, especially in situations where communication may be limited or distracting.

The pit board typically displays the following:

• Driver’s current position in the race
• Gap to the car ahead or behind, often shown in seconds
• Laps remaining or total laps completed
• Pit instruction, such as “BOX” to signal an upcoming stop
• Custom codes or symbols agreed on between the team and driver

The layout and content are tailored to each driver’s preferences. Some prefer simple lap count and gap data, while others use the board for strategic cues. Because it appears in the same place on every lap, on the pit straight, directly across from the team garage, it becomes a reliable and consistent point of reference.

Even with real-time radio and dashboard displays, teams continue to use pit boards because they are straightforward, visible at a glance, and unaffected by electronic failure or interference.

Why do Formula 1 teams still use pit boards?

Formula 1 teams continue to use pit boards because they offer a simple, low-risk way to communicate critical information during a race. While modern cars rely heavily on radio messages and digital displays, pit boards remain a trusted backup and an efficient tool for reinforcing key instructions.

If a radio system fails or signal quality drops, the pit board ensures that the driver still receives essential updates. Unlike audio messages, which can be missed or misunderstood under race pressure, the pit board delivers information clearly and visually, always from the same spot on the pit straight.

Drivers also benefit from pit boards because they reduce cognitive load. A quick glance at position or gap data allows the driver to refocus immediately without processing a sentence over the radio. In wet conditions or during high-stress laps, that clarity can be invaluable.

How are Formula 1 pit boards used during a race?

During a race, the pit board is shown to the driver once per lap as they pass the team’s garage on the pit straight. A team member leans over the pit wall and holds the board through a dedicated slot in the safety fence, making it visible to the driver as they accelerate down the main straight.

The board is only visible for a second or two, so the information must be easy to scan and immediately recognisable. Drivers are trained to glance at the same location every lap to pick up data without losing focus on braking points or track position.

Each team assigns a specific crew member, often a performance engineer or strategist, to operate the pit board. The operator follows a pre-set procedure to update the board with the latest lap count, time gap, or instruction before each display.

How are pit boards prepared in Formula 1?

Pit boards are prepared manually, but their use is fully integrated into a team’s live timing and strategy systems. Before each race weekend, engineers decide what data will be displayed, how it will be formatted, and who will be responsible for updating and presenting the board. This is based on the specific communication preferences of each driver and the strategy demands of the circuit.

The process begins with real-time coordination between the engineer operating the pit board and the team’s race strategist or performance engineer. Live data from the FIA timing feed and the team’s internal systems is used to determine what information the driver needs most on each lap—such as gaps to competitors, lap count, or pit instructions.

Because the pit board is shown on the pit straight at speeds exceeding 300 km/h, clarity is prioritised over detail. The operator uses a pre-built set of interchangeable numbers, letters, or coded inserts arranged in a four-slot vertical format. Each panel is updated just seconds before the car arrives. The display must be ready and in place on time for a one-second visual pass.

Timing is handled with the help of telemetry and GPS car tracking. Engineers know precisely when the car will reach the pit wall and coordinate the display accordingly. In some teams, a secondary timing screen or light indicator is used to cue the pit board operator to present the board at the correct moment.

In races where a time gap is critical—such as undercut or overcut attempts—the displayed delta is taken from live software that tracks time intervals in real time. For example, the board might show “+1.6” to indicate the gap to a chasing car, informing the driver how much margin they have to manage tyre pace or execute an in-lap.

Pit boards in Formula 1: Final Thoughts

In a sport defined by advanced data systems and constant communication, the pit board remains one of the few analogue tools still used in Formula 1. Shown once per lap on the pit straight, it delivers fast, clear, and reliable information with no reliance on connectivity. Whether used as a backup or to reinforce strategy, the pit board gives teams a direct line to the driver in a high-speed environment where clarity matters.

Its value lies in its simplicity.

While radios can fail and steering wheel displays require processing time, the pit board presents vital data in a fixed location, visible at speed and unaffected by interference.

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