F1 waives curfew at Interlagos as teams await freight

40

Formula 1 has waived the paddock's mandatory curfew at Interlagos to allow teams to catch up on their preparations and build processes in the wake of a lengthy delay in freight delivery.

Inclement weather that hit Mexico City on Tuesday delayed and hampered the air transfer to Brazil of a significant number of the teams' cargo containers.

The back log of stranded containers built up over the day which led to half the teams waiting for part of their equipment on Wednesday evening.

F1 freight continued to trickle in on Thursday as planes landed in Sao Paulo and the cargo was processed by customs.

However, midday at Interlagos, the Alfa Romeo team's garage remained worryingly empty with no cars or engines in sight. Ferrari and Haas were also waiting on their engines while McLaren's cars were still on their way.

A mandatory nine-hour curfew - which normally kicks off 12 hours before the start of FP1 the following day according to F1's sporting regulations - is imposed on teams during a race weekend.

But given the exceptional circumstances, F1 has now waived that constraint, which will allow teams to catch up on their preparations, albeit by burning a lot of midnight oil.

Read also: F1 freight delays won't impact Sao Paulo GP weekend

“I think the guys just have to work through the night, that’s the only thing you can do," commented Haas boss Guenther Steiner.

"I don’t know if they need to work [all the way] through the night, but it will be a late night and the regulations have been changed as of this morning with the curfew and scrutineering times all adjusted.

"So we can still do the event as planned and not change the timetable of the event.

"Everything is here now in Brazil so it’s just a question of being a few hours away from the racetrack."

This weekend's Sao Paulo Grand Prix is the second race in a demanding two-continent triple-header that will see teams cross the Atlantic early next week and move on to Qatar for the next round of racing in the 2021 F1 World Championship.

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.