Max' go-to guy Gilles Carraro

Published on 15 April 2015 by Mike Motilall

One of the first persons that Max Verstappen, after his appointment as a Formula 1-driver for Scuderia Toro Rosso, shook hands with, was with Gilles Carraro, team coordinator and actually responsible for the entire logistics.

“The first thing I asked Max? His measurements. And I advised him to arrange for a second passport because of all the hassle regarding visas during the season”, as the Italian, who is busy with this fourth term at Toro Rosso, reveals on RedBull.com. Jokingly: “My job entails that the drivers are able to focus on racing instead of packing. Of suitcases that is.”

During the race, Gilles is one of the team members that play a role in the pit stops of both Max and his Spanish team mate Carlos Sainz. In the hours and days before and also afterwards, he is the spider in Torro Rosso’s web. In his own small office in the team’s motor home it is often a coming and going. Everyone that needs anything, sees him.

The Thiene resident, a small city close to Vicenza, is responsible for the transport of all personnel and material, large and small. Gilles: “For a non-European race we need both sea and airfreight. By air we dispatch ten pallets with a total of about 28,000 kilograms, including Max’ and Carlos’ cars and a spare chassis. By sea we ship another 20,000 kilos of stuff. Sea freight is cheaper, so whenever we can, we try to use that mode of transport. Think of stuff like spare parts or generators.”

In Toro Rosso’s factory, in Faenza, there are around 450 persons working, excluding the staff working in the team’s wind tunnel. During race weekends the team consists of about 65 persons. “Prior to a race, the first ones usually arrive even on the Sunday and start very early on Monday with building and/or setting up the garage and the team’s quarters. On Wednesday the engineers normally arrive, the team management also and of course the drivers. Max and Carlos are usually expected at about two o’clock for their first meeting. That is pretty early, but deliberately done because they are still new in Formula 1 and rather young as well. On Wednesday they always do an initial track walk, a stroll on the circuit.”

The fan’s and media’s attention during race weekends, are for two boys, 17 and 20 years old, that take control of the STR10. In other words Max and Carlos. “The pressure on their shoulders, regarding that, is humongous”, Gilles reports. “It is not easy, but it’s part of the job. A lot people seem to forget that there is an enormous team hidden behind the two drivers. Max and Carlos operate at the fore front of our team, an extension of everyone working in the factory.”

For the two drivers, he is the go-to guy regarding logistics. “I also take care of their luggage to a race: two apiece. One suitcase with regular clothes and one with their race gear, including race overalls, fire retardant underwear, socks, shoes, gloves and helmets. For every race, we bring along three helmets per driver. Apart from that, I also tuck in some power bars and stuff like that. And of course cans of Red Bull, but that goes without saying.”

Before and after the races, Gilles (30) is mainly busy with logistics. Managing the packing, checking and taking care of heaps of paperwork, like checking in for the flights, doing the hotel reservations, arranging transportation and tending to customs formalities. “It is a tremendous amount of work, but luckily I also get help from the people in the factory.”

Gilles is optimistic regarding how the season will progress. “The expectation is that we will do better than last season, when we became seventh in the constructor’s championship. Franz Tost, the team principle, has said to aim for the fifth spot. Yes, that is certainly attainable. I think we have a good car and two exceptional drivers. So why not?”

Source: www.redbull.nl/maxverstappen