F1 back on track as cars returned to Europe

Christian Horner on Thursday said delays caused by the Icelandic volcano will not disturb preparations for next month’s Spanish grand prix.

With the sport’s freight – and all the cars – stranded in China while FOM’s 747s were grounded in Europe, it was feared that teams’ car developments would not be ready for the next race in Barcelona.

Red Bull boss Horner said before departing Shanghai with his travelling companion Mark Webber that an F-duct should be on the RB6 in Spain “providing we make it back to Europe” soon.

McLaren’s Martin Whitmarsh was also worried about the delay, explaining that if it (the delay) is a week or so … it will become an issue”.

We reported earlier on Thursday that the FOM freight has landed in Bilbao, and Horner confirmed that the team’s trucks are due to arrive in Milton-Keynes “today”.

“Thankfully, the way the calendar is with the extra week between the Chinese and Spanish grands prix, it (the delay) has a very limited impact,” said the Briton.

Horner also said the bulk of the race team is also due back in the UK on Thursday afternoon.

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