F1 teams to help with ventilator production

Formula 1 teams are looking at how they can support the production of ventilators to help fight the coronavirus.

F1 team bosses met in a teleconference on Thursday and discussed how they could assist in the fight against COVID-19.

Christopher Tate, formerly the managing director of the Donington Park circuit, suggested in a tweet, “Make a ventilator? Surely a classic fast-to-market motorsport engineering job? Feel sure several in our industry could do this faster and cheaper than the average regular supplier.”

In response, a Mercedes spokesperson said, “We are working in coordination with a number of our fellow Formula 1 teams on the feasibility of supporting the production of ventilators, in response to the UK government’s request to industry for help.

"This is an ongoing assessment but the teams and Formula 1 are acting in concert to make a positive contribution to the cause.”

Also announced following the conference call was the decision to postpone races in the Netherlands, Spain and Monaco and to push back the technical regulation changes originally slated for 2021 by a year in a bid to cut costs.