Formula 1® is more than speed on the track. Behind every race is a global logistics challenge spanning continents. Here’s how DHL powers performance and sustainability across every lap.
For decades, up to 1,200 metric tonnes of race cars, fuel, and equipment have zoomed across the world to 24 FORMULA 1® venues, including Melbourne’s Albert Park. This happens in the safe and steady hands of the DHL Motorsports team. As the official partner for the Australian FORMULA 1® Grand Prix, DHL handles the high-stakes coordination that keeps the F1 season moving seamlessly across continents.
Grit, resilience, and foresight characterise our team of 35 international specialists — necessary traits that make each Grand Prix a successful milestone in DHL’s history.
From strategic planning to sustainable innovation and fan engagement, DHL Express delivers not only speed and precision, but also insight for businesses looking to navigate complex logistics challenges in a fast-changing world.
Precision planning for global racing
Behind every Grand Prix is a logistics feat of incredible scale. Each F1 season involves moving up to 1,200 tonnes of race cars, engines, fuel, broadcast gear, and hospitality materials across five continents for 20-plus races, often within days between events.
So how does F1 logistics work at such an intense, global scale?
To achieve this, DHL manages a complex global network of multimodal transport routes that include air, ocean, and road freight.1 Strategic scheduling ensures back-to-back races run smoothly, even under tight turnaround times.
In one instance, when three F1 teams were caught in a web of COVID-19 sea freight delays in a 42-day trip from Europe, DHL intervened to ensure the teams could race in the third leg of the F1. After a quick reroute to Singapore, 150 tonnes of racing equipment were hauled into a couple of Boeing 777 and 767 DHL Express air freighters and transported straight to Melbourne. Having heavily invested in a fleet of air transporters, DHL was able to sidestep the limitations of commercial passenger planes in terms of schedule and availability, allowing freight to reach its destination within a quick turnaround time.
Paying attention to race day operations is also key to successful F1 logistics. To reduce any cross-contamination during the COVID-19 outbreak, three logistics teams comprising different personnel were deployed to manage the logistics of each race in the triple headers. Moving in strategic laps, the teams were individually responsible for three main roles during the F1: circuit set-up before the race, managing freight that arrived during race week, and de-rigging and packing towards the end of the week.
DHL applied efficiency and steadfastness to detailed strategy, executing one of the world’s biggest events with cargo-heavy logistics.
This precision planning reflects the same qualities seen on the track: agility, foresight, and teamwork. It’s a reminder that reliable logistics are essential to achieving peak performance, whether in motorsport or business.
Commitment to sustainable logistics
DHL’s environmentally focused fleet has helped keep Formula 1® on track to meet its sustainability goals — hosting sustainable events by 2025 and achieving a net-zero carbon footprint by 2030. In doing so, we continue to advance our own 2050 emissions commitment.
To reduce the environmental impact of F1 logistics, DHL employs a multi-modal transportation approach, combining overland and ocean freight within its logistics mix. To further this ambition, FORMULA 1® dedicated trucks are being replaced with low-emission models. Equipped with features like GPS tracking, these vehicles allow teams to monitor fuel consumption and routes in real time, enabling data-driven best practices that help lower overall emissions.
Complementing these efforts are our fuel-efficient Boeing 777 aircraft, which produce up to 18% fewer emissions than older models, as well as our increasing use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to further reduce emissions and make air transport more sustainable.
From 2026, F1 will also introduce sustainable fuel, a move that aligns with DHL Express’s own ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. This shared vision reinforces the power of collaboration in shaping a sustainable logistics ecosystem for the future.
Engaging fans beyond the track
Taking our partnership a step further, we are a Founding Partner of the F1 Esports Series and have introduced two of the sport’s most celebrated honours — the DHL Fastest Lap Award and DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award.
As a global partner, we help bring fans closer to the excitement of Formula 1®, reflecting our commitment to building lasting connections, maintaining brand visibility, and strengthening loyalty and trust across generations of motorsport enthusiasts.
Why it matters for Australian businesses
The scale and precision of Formula 1® logistics mirror the challenges faced by many Australian exporters, from coordinating multi-market shipments to meeting sustainability goals. The same principles that keep F1 running on time can help local businesses streamline their international operations.
Here are key lessons inspired by DHL Express’s experience in global event logistics:
- Plan shipments early: Build flexibility into timelines to avoid supply chain bottlenecks, especially during peak seasons.
- Use multimodal logistics: Combine ocean, air, and road freight to balance speed, cost, and environmental impact as shipments travel across different regions.
- Embrace technology: Real-time tracking and predictive analytics improve visibility and allow proactive problem-solving.
By applying these strategies, businesses can not only improve delivery performance, but also enhance their reputation for reliability, which is a key factor in retaining global customers.
How a reliable logistics partner powers global events
DHL’s partnership with Formula 1® demonstrates what logistics excellence looks like on a global stage — meticulous planning, sustainable innovation, and unwavering reliability. These same qualities make DHL the ideal partner for businesses expanding beyond borders.
A trusted logistics partner helps companies:
- Secure capacity under pressure: From seasonal surges to urgent shipments, reliable partners ensure business continuity.
- Reduce emissions responsibly: Adopt carbon-neutral shipping services that meet growing sustainability expectations.
- Deliver consistently: Strengthen customer relationships with transparent, on-time international deliveries.
Global logistics may seem complex, but with the right expertise and infrastructure, it becomes an enabler of growth, not a barrier. Just as Formula 1® teams rely on DHL to keep the championship moving, businesses can count on the same precision and commitment to fuel their own international success.
Open a business account with DHL Express today and experience how seamless global shipping can power your next big win.
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