Race for Spanish Grand Prix already under way
With the Chinese Grand Prix out of the way, the race is now on for the drivers and the teams to get to Spain for the start of the European season on 9th May.
The Icelandic Eyjafjallajokull volcano eruption has thrown plans for air travel across Europe into chaos and among those whose travel plans have been thrown into turmoil are sporting stars and their entourages. With flights to Europe still at a standstill, the Formula One teams and drivers will have to somehow find a way to get to the next race in Spain by early May.
Some of the drivers are currently having a holiday; some by their own choice and some because they have no other choice. They seem to be making the most of the valuable time off. Chinese Grand Prix winner Jenson Button said: “I was always going to go away for a few days, relaxing after this.”
Nico Rosberg, who grabbed a podium finish for the second race in a row, has headed for Thailand. The drivers may be able to travel light however, the teams and staff will struggle. Carrying the equipment and the motor-homes requires flights, and with planes currently grounded across Europe, they must wait like the rest of the world.
The Amex card may say a lot about you but is not going to be much use trying to jump a queue for a flight that does not yet exist. The air transport is needed to get the cars back to the race team factories, all of which are in Europe, including eight teams, Mercedes, Renault, Lotus, Force India, Red Bull, Virgin, McLaren and Williams, based in Britain.
One of the primary reasons for getting the cars back to the team bases is to allow engineers to undertake work on the engines to prepare them for the next race. They can also develop new parts for the car and ship them out direct from the factories easily. However, the longer that the present moratorium on air travel continues, there has to be a chance that the best option could be shipping both personnel and equipment directly to Barcelona.
Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has promised that the Spanish Grand Prix will go ahead. "I am sure everything will be all right," Ecclestone was quoted as saying in Shanghai. "There is no question of cancelling the Spanish Grand Prix. Of course, it is causing everybody problems, but we will find a way to get everyone home."
Ecclestone is a man who is used to getting what he wants but this may be a bit more of a bite than even he can chew. As the old Chinese proverb says: “Only he that has travelled the road knows where the holes are deep.”
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