Ferrari avoids technical issues and delays in cargo flights: four teams at risk in China. Chinese GP: The FIA reports technical issues and delays in cargo flights.

We are only at the second race of the F1 season, but the first problems are already emerging ahead of the Chinese GP. Traveling from one continent to another is never easy for a Formula 1 team. That’s why this year’s calendar has been made more sustainable, allowing teams to move in a more balanced way by grouping as many Grands Prix as possible in the same part of the world.

However, complications can still arise. The FIA has reported “logistical” issues and delays in transporting cargo from Australia to China. This means that the F1 weekend will start on the back foot for some teams. Tire suppliers were supposed to have already arrived in Shanghai, but now they are expected only by late afternoon or evening.

This is a crucial issue as it delays operations by at least a day and a half compared to the usual logistics schedule. Therefore, the FIA has reduced the curfew “only for this single event” from a period of five and a half hours to a maximum of six. Staff will be allowed to operate “solely for the purpose of preparing the tires after assembly by the supplier,” as stated in the Federation’s document.

We have more details on the affected teams: according to renowned photographer Kym Illman, they are McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, and Aston Martin. Other teams also appear to have experienced cargo delays, but the issues are significantly less severe.

If the required equipment does not arrive by Wednesday, the Chinese weekend could become very complicated for the four teams mentioned above. We await further updates.