Comments on: Formula One Logistics: 32 Tonnes Over 100,000 Miles

By: Alianora La Canta

Alianora La Canta — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:55:48 +0000

As a minimum, Red Bull send some freight by sea (or so the May 2006 edition of F1 Racing says) - generally things that are either unlikely to change specification during the long sail and thus cheaper to send by boat (such as the chairs used in the hospitality area) or forbidden on planes and therefore must be sent by boat (such as adhesives). In addition, every team (Super Aguri aside) uses sea freight for part of the journey to the Turkish Grand Prix because Bernie Ecclestone negotiated a deal to send the FOM-subsidised freight across the sea that way once it reached eastern Italy (this being cheaper to Bernie than using planes all the way there).

By: Oliver White

Oliver White — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:51:21 +0000

Some of the essential equipment is sent by sea freight too. Items that are bulky or heavy are cheaper and easier to send by sea freight than by air. These items then join up with the airfreight at the circuit. We send about five and a half tonnes by sea and we send this three months in advance of each race. It's mainly heavy electrical cables, gear that's cheap to buy but heavy and expensive to transport. It costs around $9000 to send it by sea - that's a fraction of the airfreight cost. We've made some huge savings just by doing this over the last three years. Source (6th paragraph from bottom).

While the WilliamsF1 Team is packing everything together after the British Grand Prix, 50 crates with a total weight of about six tonnes are already on their way by sea to Montréal. Because it is cheaper by sea than by air, they were sent on their way immediately after the previous race in Imola. Source (Paragraph 4 from top).

As the world leader in logistics, DHL has successfully combined its land, sea and air transport capabilities to provide Formula 1 with the required logistics solution, allowing organisers and drivers to focus singularly on the race ahead. Source - Michel Akavi, DHL Area Director, Middle East.

@And: Perhaps Williams are just being tight with their funds?

By: And

And — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:07:11 +0000

This article isn’t strictly accurate.
After several years in F1 I can honestly say I have never heard of a team sending freight by ship!
All trucks are left hand drive.
3,000 bottles of water is not carried around the world, the catering staff buy it at the local super market unless it’s part of a sponsorship deal and then it’s provided by the local distributor.
The reason everything has to be accounted for is if the weight going out is different to the weight coming back customs will have to investigate if your actualy importing or exporting products in your freight.

By: andyF1

andyF1 — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 06:52:54 +0000

Yes it is a massive logistical job.

Now add onto that the 10-12 TV Broadcasters and then Radio never mind Photographers / journalists that travel the F1 circuit!

Just as a small example, the company I worked for shipped 2.5tons of equipment to Australia for use by 3 different broadcasters, but it was only part of their setup!

By: Oliver White

Oliver White — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:27:29 +0000

It certainly is quite impressive! Especially that Energy Station.

I’m also researching a post into the setting up of the Monaco Grand Prix as well - now that is a logistical nightmare! Might do Valencia and/or Singapore as well, but I imagine they’ll be a bit samey.

By: Stew

Stew — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:21:38 +0000

Ahh, I could do it in my sleep. Just kidding. It really is astounding what goes on behind the scenes we never know about. We just see everyone set up at the races as if they are there all the time.

I’m sure there are some headaches for those in charge of the moves.