How do F1 teams travel?

The FOCA uses a couple of 747 to transport all the equipment to the "fly away" races. Non fly away races use regular truck transporters. Your transport costs depend on how well you do. If you score points your transport for the next season is discounted. All the equipment goes into these planes. The teams fly either first on regular airliners or use their individual jets.

 

Formula One Constructors Association

 

Now THERE'S a blast from the past, I thought FOCA was all-but dead ?

 

It's the FOM now.

 

Sorry, I'm a bit of a dinosaur reliving the golden eighties with FISA vs FOCA.

FISA has become FIA and FOCA FOM (as I just learned). Basically FIA is Mad Max and FOM is Bernie.

 

Me's the bigger dinosaur here: I still miss the turbocars.

 

At test day last year (prior to the San Marino GP) we also went to the GES and had the opportunity to watch them load the transporters for their short trip to Imola. Pretty impressive in their special "hangar type" location.

Carol

 

I think you're referring to the logistics building, right?

I remember attending the Monza GP several years ago. The day after the race I was driving through the Montblanc tunnel and as I was exiting on the other side one of the British team's transporters were just entering it. I thought about their valuable cargo.

 

This is featured in the magazines I promised you. As for another example, Minardi would have little PR shows at "fly away" races by using their top model 747s to deliver team and cargo. Upon landing, they would showcase the cars and have little press conferences. Occasionally they would let other teams bum rides if I can remember correctly. When Murrary Walker called it quits, I think Minardi even had a flying party plane with his pic on the side?

Actual printed proof to follow if you get out of the Windy City.

RocketBoy

 

About the only time the Minardis were going at the same speed as the other teams.

 

your not a dinosaur, your just Right


E

 

Does anyone have pictures of the 747s loading? I couldn't come up with anything.

 

I was trying to find one, but couldn't. I have seen pics though. They took the wings off the cars, wrapped the body in a "blanket" and tie the suspension down to the pallet the car is put on. Then the pallets are loaded into the cargo bay. Dunno whether that is still how they transport cars today given all the espionage etc. but the foto I have somewhere is from the early nineties.

 

I thought the cars stay inside the trailers that you see at tracks, but just loaded up (driving up) into the plane.

I think during one of last year's Speed TV broadcasts, they were saying how the races requiring the 747s had limitations on how much to load. The trucks were designed to optimize space when put on a plane or something like that.

For the way you're saying it, how did the transport trucks get to the other races? Did they use ship or have a spare truck to ship out early?

 

I appreciate this thread concerns the movement of equipment not personnel but it did remind me of when I went to the GP of Portugal in '93.
I flew British Airways, walking through Business Class I passed Flavio Briatore (Benetton). I took my seat in Economy and found that I was sitting next to no less than Ken Tyrell & his wife! No doubt the drivers were all in private planes and helicopters but good old Ken was in steerage with the plebs!
At the other end (Lisbon) Flavio had his man carry everything but his attache case. Meanwhile dear old Ken and Mrs. Tyrell were seen dragging their cases off the carousel...

 

Awesome story! If I recall correctly, someone on this forum saw Jenson Button in the airport and has the picture to prove. I can't remember if they were on the same plane or whether or not it was first class, etc, but it's still cool to see nonetheless. Anyone know if Michael flies himself?

 

I think Senna used to pilot himself around Europe.
I stayed at a Hotel near to Silverstone for the British GP and Martin Brundle used to land his helicopter in the back garden of the Hotel...
The team mechanics that I have seen on flights travel economy.

 

My nephew bumped into Nick Heidfeld at Zurich airport. He was pushing along his luggage on a cart.

 

I think it was someone who came from the Canadian GP on his way back to LA. He was on the same plane as Jenson who was sitting in Economy by himself. He went to LA to party at the Playboy Mansion.

 

I think it was someone who came from the Canadian GP on his way back to LA. He was on the same plane as Jenson who was sitting in Economy by himself. He went to LA to party at the Playboy Mansion.

 

Based on what I've been told by friends in F1, some drivers fly by private jet and some by commercial air. Some paid by their team or some drivers chip in and share private jets.

It really depends on which team you're in and if your contract includes private jets to go to races. Obviously the bigger the team the more perks you get.

I know DC's contract at McLaren covered his transportation to most races (private jet/commercial). But he had to pay his own way on his first year at RBR.

Senior management of bigger teams definitely fly via private jets. I think Williams sold their jet recently so I assume they fly commercial.

 

http://www.formula1.com/insight/technicalinfo/11/977.html

Not a good pic but it will do

 

Thanks! So Tifosi12's early 1990s transport method still holds. How do the trucks get there? If not an airplane (like a C-5 Galaxy or AN-124), then I guess by ship.