The presentation for March 2026 was all about going behind the scenes of European Formula 1 Racing.

The authors interest was initiated when his son started to work for the logistics team behind Renault Alpine and this ignited his interest in all aspects of the annual set of Grand prix races around the world.

We watched a time motion video of the building of Racing Bull's engineering base, hospitality suites, and catering facilities which takes up to 89 hours to construct but will be dismantled within 12 hours after each European Grand Prix and then moved to the next GP site. It takes up to 38 trucks for each team to deliver all the building, cars and engines and these have to be on site to a strict timetable. When on site the lorry drivers are part of the building team and whilst their driving hours are limited by European and British rules, they could be working 20 hour days as manual labour to get everything erected in time.

With some 1200km between Grand Prix race tracks, sometimes the drivers have to be doubled up so that the lorries can continuously keep moving for up to 20 hours, in order to get the next race. No team can start building their base until all teams are ready to go, so that no team gets a special advantage over its competitors 

Now consider there are 11 racing teams so there can be up to 400 lorries that have to be accommodated on site or near to site, with minivans ferrying drivers back and forwards as necessary against their own project plans and schedules.  Each team will have a logistics manager and also somebody who is responsible for finding hotel accommodation,  Bear in mind that teams can consist of upto 130 people. Lorry drivers  usually will live in their cabs.

In addition to the above you need cranes and forklifts on site but these are organised locally, as well as the media with all their cameras and studio equipment. Usually the catering facilitates are the first on site and in some cases the last to leave as they have to provide sustenance for the last disassemblers/drivers.

The race organisers will be responsible for the infrastructure, water and sewerage, electricity plus the safety equipment and stand building. Pirelli who are the tyre supplier also have their race base and carry around 1400 tyres for each race. Race drivers, managers and executives may fly in their private jets and helicopters or take seats on the F1 charter plane to get back home for a day or two before travelling again to the next stop.

Each team has a group of engine mechanics provided by the engine manufacturers but wear the specific teams' outfits whilst on site. 

Often teams have their own trucks provided by their Group companies. Mercedes have Mercedes trucks, Renault Alpine have Renault trucks. The fuel for the trucks is provided free from four fuel companies. All the fuel for the race cars is provided by the same companies but any unused fuel is returned to the original site. This is because of taxation on fuels being different in each country.

As you start to realise the cost of logistics is big money but this will be only a small proportion of the total cost of operating an F1 team.