The transportation of Formula 1 cars then and now
03/15/2012
On Sunday, March 18, the 2012 Formula 1 season kicks off in Australia. The Grand Prix cars have been flown around the world every year for over 50 years. For many years, the cargo jumbos have been taking off from the two European airports of Milan (Ferrari, Sauber, Toro Rosso, HRT) and London (Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes, Lotus, Caterham, Force India, Marussia, Williams) to their respective GP destinations. As you can see in the first picture, in 1963 all the cars fitted on a single plane.
Today, several cargo jumbos are needed. However, the cars are only a small part of the total cargo. The teams' pit material (screens, large screens, telemetry computer systems, tool cabinets, wheel changing systems and all spare parts), the catering service equipment, the complete paddock club superstructures and the FIA measurement system for vehicle testing, as well as the safety car and the medical car are flown around the world every year. Material is transported from track to track in containers. Each team has a certain number of tons free, the rest has to be paid for separately, similar to passengers with their personal luggage.
It is hard to imagine what would happen if one of these fully loaded jumbos failed to reach its destination ...
