Behind the row of pit lane garages at a Grand Prix lies the hallowed ‘Formula One Paddock’ — the exclusive space where team personnel, drivers, and media mix with VIPs, sponsors, and celebrities.

Each F1 team has its own building, where they offer catering, host offices and meeting rooms, and provide hospitality for guests. Oh, and of course, there are two private rooms for each driver.

In days past, just a single vehicle would feature an awning on one side for guests to sit under. But today, at European races, these motorhomes have morphed into full-scale hospitality units — often stretching to three floors — and are transported via a fleet of articulated lorries.

Our ‘motorhome’ features at the nine European races and has just four more outings left before the flyaways dominate the final part of the season. Making its debut last year, the bold and stylish appearance is the result of a collaboration with legendary French architect and industrial designer, Philippe Starck.

From its dynamic steel-and-glass façade to its sleek furnishings and contemporary interior, our European base has set a new standard in the F1 Paddock and offers a welcoming environment for our team and guests. But getting from one race to another — especially with back-to-back events coming up — requires military-style planning and coordination.

After we’ve completed the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, the team must move fast — dismantling the motorhome in 10 hours and covering the 770 miles to Budapest in time for the Hungarian Grand Prix and media day just four days later. The motorhome is transported in 15 Renault Trucks using the latest DE13 Turbo Compound Engine to provide 10% more fuel saving and a 10% CO2 reduction than the former model. Category A tyres and aerodynamic deflectors and fairings have been applied to further reduce fuel consumption.

Then, after the August summer break, the final European double-header of the year gets underway, starting in Zandvoort.The Dutch seaside circuit presents its own challenges, with extremely limited paddock space and only one narrow access route. It’s quite a feat to get packed up and on the road in time to cross the Swiss Alps and complete the 700 miles to Monza, on the outskirts of Milan — all to be ready to host guests again just four days later.

In such fast turnarounds, one of the keys to maximising operational efficiency is the crane integrated into the design of the motorhome, housed in the right rear corner. This means the dismantling process can begin almost immediately after the chequered flag falls on Sunday afternoon.

“The challenge is the crane is the last vehicle out, but it has to be the first one in at the next race track,” says Facilities Director, Simon Lake.

“But it isn’t just about the engineering of a motorhome — it’s about the dynamic within the crew,” he adds. “And that's what we've really been working on: getting the right mindset in the crew not to rush, even under time pressure. If you start to rush, you start to make mistakes. It’s about keeping the guys as fresh as we can.”

It stands as one of the most impressive structures in the Formula One paddock and an achievement of the team’s precision logistics, smart design, and dedicated crew who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the team rolling through Europe.