Inside the Tools of Formula 1

Attending the Canadian Grand Prix offers more than just high-speed action and the thrill of competition. For tool enthusiasts, the real spectacle is found in the Paddock, where precision, efficiency, and engineering excellence converge—not just in the cars but in the tools used to keep them running. What’s surprising is just how many unexpected brands and models appear in the hands of some of the most elite motorsport engineers in the world.

A Different Kind of Driver

Not all drivers at an F1 event are behind the wheel. Installation drivers—small, lightweight power tools used to fasten critical components—are everywhere. Teams rely heavily on 12V Bosch tools, particularly for handling the smaller fasteners that make up the intricate bodywork of an F1 car. McLaren, thanks to a sponsorship deal, runs an all-DeWalt setup, with tools like the DeWalt DC D703 used in reassembly after hard-fought practice sessions and inevitable mid-weekend rebuilds. Despite newer and more powerful DeWalt models on the market, teams appear to favor compact, time-tested tools with 2Ah cylindrical-cell batteries, likely prioritizing weight, ease of handling, and reliability.

The Ubiquitous Pit Blower

If there’s one constant across F1 garages, it’s Makita blowers. While a few teams have unique setups, almost every major player—Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes, Aston Martin, and Alfa Romeo—uses Makita blowers to cool key components, particularly the brakes and engine side pods. These tools are often stripped of branding, given custom paint jobs, or even modified with team-specific enhancements, but they’re unmistakably Makita at their core. Ferrari’s six-blower setup during extended pit stops is a striking example of how cooling technology plays a critical role in race performance.

Not everyone in the paddock sticks to the status quo. McLaren has gone all-in on DeWalt, including their high-powered DCBl772x1 FlexVolt blowers, with 15Ah batteries for extended runtime between qualifying sessions. Meanwhile, teams like Alpine opt for fully custom-engineered cooling units, while AlphaTauri runs a mix of Makita and Ego-branded blowers, likely due to their superior airflow for brake cooling.

Milwaukee Crashes the Party

For decades, the Paoli air gun has dominated F1 pit stops, delivering over 3,500 ft-lbs of torque at 16,000 RPM, ensuring the fastest tire changes in motorsports. But in recent years, something surprising has appeared: Milwaukee’s 2867 one-inch impact wrenches. These heavy-duty cordless impacts have been spotted more and more in F1 garages, used not during lightning-fast pit stops but rather in the paddock for precise wheel installations.

These Milwaukee guns are programmable via an app, allowing teams to control the exact torque applied to each wheel nut. The adoption of these tools coincides with the now-infamous 2021 incident involving Valtteri Bottas, whose Mercedes was stranded due to a cross-threaded wheel nut that wouldn’t come off. Could the addition of controlled torque application be a response to such failures? It certainly seems possible.

Hand Tools and Specialty Equipment

When it comes to precision hand tools, three names dominate the paddock: Mitutoyo for measurement tools, and a mix of Beta, Snap-on, and Facom for hand tools. Snap-on ratchets and wrenches are particularly common, with some specialized cordless drivers being used in pit stops for front wing adjustments. These tools use stepper motors programmed to adjust wing angles in precise half-degree increments—vital for on-the-fly aerodynamic tuning.

Air Tools and Venturi Coolers

Despite the increasing reliance on cordless technology, air tools still have their place in the F1 world. Shared compressed air systems supply cooling air tubes to the drivers, but because temperatures in these systems fluctuate, teams often supplement with handheld Venturi effect cooler guns. These are similar to tools used in industrial paint booths, offering a quick way to deliver icy blasts of air to critical components.

The Tools of Champions

Formula 1 is a world of extreme precision and relentless innovation. The tools used in the paddock reflect that same drive for excellence, balancing power, weight, and efficiency. Whether it’s a seemingly humble Makita blower cooling a $15 million race car or a high-tech Milwaukee impact wrench easing the stress of wheel installation, every tool in the paddock plays a role in the race to victory.

For tool enthusiasts, the F1 paddock is a hidden gem—proof that even the most advanced motorsport in the world still relies on the best tools available, no matter the brand or technology. And as teams constantly seek new performance advantages, who knows what unexpected tools we’ll see next?

About Torque Test Channel

Torque Test Channel is dedicated to putting tools—old and new—through real-world performance tests, providing an unbiased look at how they stack up. Whether it’s the latest cordless impact or a legendary air tool, the channel cuts through the marketing hype to reveal what actually works.

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