Formula 1 teams are brushing off concerns about freight delays as they prepare for this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. Despite cargo arriving eight hours behind schedule, teams aren’t worried about missing Friday’s first practice session.
Several top teams including Red Bull Racing, McLaren, Mercedes and Aston Martin were affected by the shipping delay, according to an F1 photographer.
When contacted by GPblog, team representatives confirmed their equipment had reached Shanghai by Wednesday afternoon local time.
While there was definitely a delay, and mechanics now face a time crunch to prepare the cars, the situation isn’t as dire as initially reported. The cars aren’t “missing” – they’ve arrived and teams are confident they’ll be ready for action.
The timing could have been particularly troublesome since this weekend features a Sprint format with limited practice time.
Fortunately, the FIA has already granted teams an extra 90 minutes of work time before the mandatory curfew kicks in, providing additional breathing room if needed.
This marks F1’s return to China after a five-year absence from the Shanghai International Circuit, making the smooth arrival of equipment especially important for teams looking to make a strong impression at this high-profile event.
