The global logistical complications caused by the war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic have caused problems in the global supply chain, with widespread delays in the transport of goods.
MotoGP already ran into trouble when it had to cancel the first day of action at the Argentine Grand Prix after the cargo plane was delayed, while Formula 1 itself has also come close to similar complications.
Haas had to miss the start of testing in Bahrain , when some of its cargo was delayed by a plane problem, while F1 partner DHL had to carry out a rescue mission to salvage several tonnes of equipment from three teams before the Australian GP , after the boat he was on suffered delays.
F1 has embarked on the longest season in its history in 2022 with 23 grands prix, with a particularly compact second half of the year. This is due to the need to finish the championship before the World Cup begins, which will be held in Qatar next November.
This means that stretches of two and three consecutive races will follow after the summer, increasing the risk that a freight delay will leave teams without material for a grand prix weekend.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner admits that the situation is not easy and that it comes at a time when F1 teams are exposed to a dramatic escalation in transport costs.
“It’s a big challenge,” he said. “We have a very tight schedule and tight deadlines, and with some double and even triple weekends taking place at the end of the year, it’s obvious that missing transport for a period of time could cause havoc.”
“So that’s an issue that we’re obviously working on very closely with the logistics guys and Formula 1. But then of course there’s the cost element and I think transport prices are close to doubling this year. year”.
“We see it across the cost of living, we see inflation around the world and I think when you look at transportation as something that is currently on the edge, we have to find a sensible tolerance that takes these inflationary costs into account.” .
Increased costs, coupled with the risk of delays, have led teams to be more cautious about submitting charges, including updates, at the last minute.
AlphaTauri boss Franz Tost also shared his opinion: “It’s a big challenge, of course, because of our tight schedule. But we are aware of it, which means we have to manage it and be prepared.”
“Last-minute activities are no longer possible and as a competitor the costs are increasing dramatically. That means that from a logistics point of view we have a lot of problems to solve.”
“I hope that all the teams have the cars and the equipment on the track on time, that we don’t have any delays like we did with MotoGP,” he concluded.
