The cool down lap — also known as the in-lap after qualifying or the slow-down lap after the race — is when drivers coast back to the pits without pushing the car. It’s a moment to save fuel, cool the brakes, wave to the fans, or… deliver an aggressive swerve in the general direction of a rival. You’ll hear emotional radio messages, see helmet salutes, and maybe even a burnout at the finish line. The car may be cooling down, but the emotions definitely aren’t.
