After 16 rounds in ten countries, Formula E’s tenth season concluded in London with a nail-biting conclusion to the championship that saw Pascal Wehrlein win his first Drivers’ Championship by just six points.

The on-track action kept fans on the edge of their seats to the last moment but none of this would have been possible without the large-scale logistics operation that goes on in the background.

From the narrow streets of Monaco to the Portland International Raceway, DHL handles the huge pressure of delivering for a sport that commands a fanbase of over 344 million people.

“We are carrying, from one race to another, around 400 tonnes of freight across air and sea,” Federico Cavani, Formula E Operations – DHL Motorsports, said.

“We have to deal with airlines, customs, trucks. We are working on night shifts before and after the race, day shifts at the airport under all sorts of conditions and environments.

“Before an event, we arrive on-site and begin offloading the trucks carrying essential equipment that is crucial for setting up the race.

“The following day, we start unloading and delivering team equipment, including cars, garage tools, and other necessary items. We meticulously lay out all freight according to a detailed map that specifies the location of each crate and pod.

“We then focus on setting up the team boxes in front of the garages for teams and distributing freight to various suppliers. Throughout the setup process, we have at least eight forklift operators from DHL constantly moving freight.

“After the race, we collect the empty boxes and place them in front of the team garages. This allows the teams to pack and load their equipment within two to three hours after the race.

“From midnight or 1am after the chequered flag, we begin loading everything onto trucks for shipment to the airport. And, in the following days, we collect the remaining freight, as some suppliers take more time to take down and pack up their equipment.”

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A greener vision

DHL, the official founding and logistics partner of Formula E, has been working tirelessly over the last decade to ensure that 132 races across 33 cities and 24 countries proceeded without a hitch. Bringing 40 years of experience in global motorsport, DHL works to deliver critical logistics solutions for all its customers but with Formula E, the process goes beyond simply moving goods, there’s a bigger part of their relationship.

With Formula E, the first sport with a certified net zero carbon footprint from inception, and DHL, the first logistics company to set a measurable carbon efficiency target, the two organisations are determined to put sustainability front and centre.

DHL offers cutting-edge sustainable logistics, utilising multimodal transport solutions across air, road and sea. This has allowed Formula to have a substantial reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through the use of biofuels over the past three seasons.

The logistics provider has also sought to use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) where possible to have a lesser impact on the climate. This was evident most recently when DHL moved three 747s 5,000 miles from Portland to London using SAF, reducing greenhouse gases 80 percent compared to conventional jet fuel.

“DHL and Formula E share strong values around sustainability, although we accept the logistics side can still carry a significant environmental footprint,” Cavani highlighted.

“While we can’t change the necessity of transportation, we are committed to neutralising our carbon emissions. We constantly work on solutions such as using sea freight containers, biofuels, and hydrogenated vegetable oil fuel to minimise emissions.”

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Passion project

For the DHL team working on this sport, those committed to working on delivering a smooth logistical process have to commit to more than just a day job, it’s a year-round mission that requires a real love of the sport and their work.

“When I spoke with my friends, they couldn’t grasp the scale of what we do. They saw DHL banners on the circuit and wondered what our role was. Some people watching TV might not realise the immense logistics behind the scenes. It’s not just about moving items; it involves coordinating a massive amount of activity to make everything happen smoothly,” Cavani explained.

“To deliver the freight, you have to stay away from your family because you are travelling a lot. For each race, we are away from home between 14 and 20 days. So, across the calendar, during the championship, we are at home for just a few weeks.

“But when you arrive at the circuit on race day after all the operations are completed and the fans are watching, we are always very proud to have worked on this and made the championship happen.”