The Line with Dr Kristen Holmes Red Bull’s Pit Stop Strategy Revealed! Calum Nicholas: What 13 Years Inside F1 Taught Me
Oct 30, 2025
Calum Nicholas, a former senior technician for Red Bull Racing and author of 'Life in the Pit Lane,' shares thrilling insights from his 13 years in F1. He discusses the pressures of working with Max Verstappen and the intense emotions surrounding the 2021 Championship. Calum reveals the intricacies of pit stop strategies and why they sometimes fail. He advocates for diversity in motorsport, addressing systemic barriers, and emphasizes the importance of internal support in high-stakes environments. His stories shed light on the true nature of racing and resilience.
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From Garage To Grand Prix
- Calum moved from road-car mechanic to F1 after seeing mechanics at the British Grand Prix and deciding he could do it.
- He worked factory roles, raced in lower formulas, then joined Red Bull and spent a decade traveling as senior power unit technician.
Losing A Teammate Changed Everything
- Calum recounted Jules Bianchi's crash and the shock of building a car that later cost a colleague his life.
- He described the lack of time to grieve and how Marussia's small-team culture provided crucial mutual support.
Pressure Is Team Responsibility
- Pressure for pit stops is mostly internal and comes from responsibility to teammates rather than bosses.
- Calum performs better under pressure and emphasizes rhythm over forced speed: "slow is smooth, smooth is fast."
