Race Behind the Race: The Logistics of Formula 1

It’s Monday after the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne and Formula 1® is already on its way to Malaysia. Eleven self-sufficient F1TM racing teams have just begun an around-the world tour with some 600 tons of luggage, delivered by DHL. The 2014 logistics “race behind the race” is underway.

An F1 paddock can fill the cargo hold of six to seven jumbo jets – about 100 tons per aircraft. That’s a lot of luggage! Any fluctuations in F1’s baggage are significant because they can mean adding an extra plane. And it all needs to happen fast, especially when the next race is the following weekend. With so much cargo and so little time, the logistics race requires every bit of speed, precision and teamwork needed to win a Formula 1 Grand PrixTM.

“Within 24 hours all the material from the circuit is broken down and on its way.” (Pierluigi Ferrari, DHL Motorsport Deputy Managing Director)

“We get to work on the operational side of things right after the race on Sunday evening,” says Pierluigi Ferrari, DHL Motorsport Deputy Managing Director. “The time schedule is very tight but within 24 hours all the material from the circuit is broken down and on its way. And by the next morning the teams will already have started to unpack.”

An F1 logistics veteran
Pier – as friends and colleagues know him – has over 32 years’ experience in Formula 1 logistics. “I started in 1981. My first trip was to the testing in Rio de Janeiro in 1982. I’ve worked every race since 1986,” says the F1 veteran.

VIDEO: Have a look at the race behind the race as DHL delivered F1 to the USA last year for the first time in five years!

As Official Logistics Partner, DHL’s job is to make sure the teams’ equipment arrives intact and on time. It’s a challenge, especially when the next race is the following weekend on another continent. “Today with so many back-to-back races – meaning back-to-back race weekends – preparing the logistics is very difficult. But we are ready,” adds Pier. “We have to be since it all happens so fast. We support the teams as they break down the equipment and package it and put it on pallets, load it onto trucks and give it to the airports where the aircraft await.”

DHL works closely with Formula One Management (FOM) to make sure F1 has everything it needs when it needs it. “We have more or less 20-30 people from DHL Motorsports at every race working alongside FOM in supporting the logistics needs of the teams,” says Pier.

This year’s major technical changes also mean changes to the logistics solution. In the past some teams shipped their cars intact while others did so in parts. In some cases, the cars were rolled right on to the plane and could be stacked in the cargo hold in car racks. This year all the cars are shipped in containers – so-called “track shacks” – which has an impact on aircraft payload.

“Having that network to rely on is priceless.”

A global network energy boost
Although the vast majority of Formula 1’s equipment travels together from race to race, DHL is able to boost its performance by tapping into its entire global network for the teams’ last-minute needs. “We use the DHL Express network a lot for new and replacement parts coming from team headquarters or elsewhere, and we’ll even use on-flight couriers and direct helicopter transfers from the airport when the item is extremely urgent,” says Pier.

“Having that network to rely on is priceless,” he adds. “For example, it helped us a lot especially during preseason tests in Bahrain because we were able to use cargo space on the express flights already flying to and from Europe.”

VIDEO: Get a behind the scenes look at how DHL delivers F1 to the world!