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The Private Jets Of Formula One
Formula 1 is not only one of the world’s most popular sports but also one of the most complex, given the logistics requirements of multi-million-dollar vehicles. Discover how private jet charter helps this sport take place all around the world. Each Formula 1 Grand Prix requires an incredible range of racing equipment that must be dismantled, packaged and transported to the next venue, after which it needs to be put together again in time for the next race. Sounds simple enough, but the vast amount of equipment and large distances covered make Formula 1 a very complex logistics challenge.
Formula 1’s official carrier, DHL, has reported that six of its Boeing 747 aircraft clock up 132,000km in one nine-month F1 season, as they carry the paraphernalia of 10 teams (with this likely increasing to 12 teams in 2025). On average, that’s a hefty 50 tons of freight per team, 30 freight containers of hospitality equipment, 150,000kg of media equipment, and 10,000kg of electronics per F1 team. This can sometimes reach a total of 2,000 tonnes of freight necessary to ensure a successful race.
Is F1 Equipment Transported Via Plane?
Aside from the drivers and various team members, the F1 teams must transport an endless amount of equipment to each race.
Formula One Management (FOM) generally charters the F1 team’s equipment via cargo planes. The FOM has a 4-decade-long relationship with DHL, which has consistently transported cars, parts, and other F1 equipment worldwide. Transport via cargo planes is most common for races outside of Europe – or any race quite far away. However, for most races within Europe, land travel is the most frequently used method of transportation of F1 equipment.
DO F1 TEAMS FLY THEIR CARS?
Getting those cars from A to B is no easy task. These pieces of equipment are vital, and any damage can be detrimental to the race day – so the careful transport of these cars is essential!
Transporting an F1 car to nearby locations is often done via road transport in trucks. However, for races that are far away, cargo planes are the go-to. DHL is the cargo plane company that all F1 teams use to transport their cars, thanks to their partnership with the FOM. When the teams transport their cars, they dismantle them first. The purpose of the dismantling is to allow for efficient transportation and to protect the vehicle from damage. The dismantling involves separating the wings (both front and rear), power units, and gears and placing them in one container. Then the car’s frame (the chassis) is placed in a separate container. The car arrives in various pieces at the track, and the team will reassemble it there.
HOW MANY CARS DO F1 TEAMS FLY TO EACH RACE?
A commonly asked question is whether F1 teams fly additional cars to the race besides the two main cars. The answer is no, not anymore.
In the past, teams would fly up additional cars for their drivers to use in the case of damage or malfunction. However, recently F1 teams have decided against this as it added hassle to the transportation of already tons of equipment. Nowadays, the teams travel with spare parts for almost everything. Thus, they can replace or mend virtually any aspect of the car if necessary.
