© Getty Images / Red Bull Content PoolThe North America ChallengeWhat it takes to race in Miami and Canada
WhenwetraveltoNorthAmerica,wearenotjustgoingracing.Wearemovingahigh-performanceoperationacrosscontinents,timezones,andclimateswhilemaintainingprecisionateverystep.RacesliketheMiamiGrandPrixandtheCanadianGrandPrixtestmorethancarperformance.Theytesthowwellweoperateasateam.
Each race weekend requires around 50 tonnes of freight. That includes cars, tools, garage infrastructure and spare parts. For European rounds, we rely on trucks. For North America, everything moves by sea and by air.
We often operate with duplicate sets of equipment. One travels ahead while another returns from a previous race. Timing is tight, and even small delays can reduce our setup window significantly. Planning is detailed and long term, with logistics mapped out months in advance.
Crew Setting Up© Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
Miami and Montreal sit five to six hours behind the UK and Europe. That shift impacts sleep, reaction time and decision making across the team.
We prepare by gradually adjusting our schedules before we travel. Light exposure, nutrition and recovery all play a role. Even with that preparation, race weekends are intense, and maintaining focus becomes part of the challenge.
Relaxing Before The Storm© Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
The Miami International Autodrome is a temporary circuit that evolves quickly across the weekend. Grip levels change session by session, which makes early data less reliable. We have to adapt in real time, refining setup as the track improves.
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve presents a different test. Long straights reward efficiency, while heavy braking zones demand stability. The kerbs are aggressive, and getting the balance right between speed and control is critical.
Time For Miami© Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
Miami brings heat and humidity. Managing tyre temperatures, brake cooling and overall car performance becomes more complex. For the crew, it is physically demanding, with long hours in high temperatures.
Montreal can be less predictable, especially this year since it’s scheduled a few weeks earlier compared to the last few years. Conditions can shift across a weekend, from cool mornings to warmer sessions later in the day. That variation influences tyre behaviour and setup decisions, requiring flexibility in our approach.
Wet Conditions In Montreal© Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
Racing in North America sharpens how we operate. It pushes us to be efficient, adaptable and precise under pressure.
For fans, these races highlight the full complexity of the sport. It is not just about performance on track. It is about the systems, planning and people behind it, working together to deliver at a global level.
Heading Back Stateside© Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
