Coronavirus: Formula 1 teams are to help in supply of ventilators

Last updated on .From the section Formula 1comments338

Australian Grand Prix
The Australian Grand Prix was cancelled after a McLaren team member tested positive for the virus

Formula 1 teams are working with government and health authorities to increase the supply of ventilators during the coronavirus crisis.

Ventilators are a device used to help supply more air to patients with breathing difficulties, one of the effects of severe coronavirus symptoms.

The majority of F1 teams are aiming to work out ways to use their engineering facilities to boost production.

F1 said the aim was to "provide as much help and assistance as we can".

A spokesman said: "The F1 community is engaged in discussions with all the relevant stakeholders regarding this issue and we will provide further details in due course."

A number of teams have applied-technologies divisions that could directly feed into the national production capacity of ventilators in the UK and Italy, particularly McLaren, Red Bull, Williams, Mercedes and Ferrari.

But all teams have advanced manufacturing capability that could potentially be used to make complex devices such as this, and as many will help as can.

The idea is to increase the supply of the existing design of ventilators rather than try to come up with a new approach.

The UK is estimated to need an extra 20,000 ventilators to deal with the crisis as it develops over the coming months.

It is hoped that an approach can be agreed within the next week that will help teams feed into capacity as quickly as possible, to boost the capability of health services to deal with increasing numbers of patients with breathing difficulties.

The move follows the Agnelli family which controls Ferrari and Fiat donating €10m (£9.3m) to the Italian government to help deal with the coronavirus emergency at a national level, as well as buying 150 extra ventilators and providing a fleet of cars to distribute food and medicine.

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338 comments

  • Comment posted by MVP, at 14:03 19 Mar 2020

    It is good to see F1 helping out in a positive way like this.

  • Comment posted by swplayer, at 14:05 19 Mar 2020

    Good on F1 and those will wealth helping. Let’s hope the other multimillionaires in other sports put there hands in their deep pockets to help.

  • Comment posted by miles naismith, at 14:15 19 Mar 2020

    Proud of the F1 guys stepping up and helping out.

    Strange how private healthcare (touted as being superior to the NHS) has decided to 'Rent' out beds costing us £3M a day!

    Spain nationalised their private hospitals.

  • Comment posted by daren186, at 14:39 19 Mar 2020

    Why are people so quick to be negative and try to point out perceived flaws when someone tries to do good. I imagine the same people are the selfish amongst us.

  • Comment posted by CaptTSTA, at 14:26 19 Mar 2020

    #6. The voice of cheese

    What a sad individual you are.

    F1 may not be your cup of tea but be grateful they are doing something positive. I just hope you are not one of the unlucky ones who will need the use their ventilators.

  • Comment posted by knowledge is good, at 14:18 19 Mar 2020

    @4 that's and overreaction. Williams have previously helped NHS staff out with premature babies by using pit stop technology and all make other things which you do not even know about. But seriously great if they can work together and contribute something positive at this time of need.

  • Comment posted by doogiej, at 14:14 19 Mar 2020

    This is great. Well done F1

  • Comment posted by T-O-G, at 14:10 19 Mar 2020

    Great idea

  • Comment posted by MrG, at 14:14 19 Mar 2020

    Well if I need one I'll have a Mercedes one please.... bound to get well super quick :o)

  • Comment posted by redonsolent, at 14:20 19 Mar 2020

    From what's been said the issue seems to be electronic circuitry that would largely come from China. If the likes of McLaren Applied Technologies can build their own circuitry in house (standard F1 ECU's for example) then they could be vital in allowing us to produce these.

    Let's hope they can.

  • Comment posted by Jyoung94, at 14:56 19 Mar 2020

    I work at a hospital and understand the current shortage we have of ventilators. People do not understand how grateful the hospitals around the UK will be/are about this news.
    These teams have the best technology and the funds to make a really difference during this difficult time.
    Thank you to all the F1 teams helping and stay safe everyone, we will get through this together.

    JY

  • Comment posted by Paul, at 14:54 19 Mar 2020

    @21...you don't think the development of KERS has a use outside F1? you don't think that the advances in crash simulation has a use outside F1? you don't think the advances in light weighting has a use outside F1? you don't think that real time telemetry exchange has a use outside F1? you don't think the advances in aerodynamic knowledge has a use outside F1? I could go on and on...

  • Comment posted by VDU881, at 15:01 19 Mar 2020

    @30

    F1 has developed material science, metallurgy, electronics, batteries, flame retardant fabrics and aerodynamics. Williams even set up a company that regenerated energy in hybrid public transport. The carbon fibre production methods are used in such things as prosthetic limbs
    Almost every improvement in the world begins with engineers, not people who carp on HYS.

  • Comment posted by ThoughtSo, at 14:15 19 Mar 2020

    Err well done the teams, I don't think it is the FIA doing this!!

  • Comment posted by City commuter , at 15:31 19 Mar 2020

    To all those with negative meaningless comments, I feel sad for you - anyone who can, & are prepared to help, - well done

  • Comment posted by BIRDY27, at 14:47 19 Mar 2020

    Well done F1. Some positive news. Every little helps. Thanks

  • Comment posted by Ian J, at 15:32 19 Mar 2020

    There has been a design called a Nuffield vent (NV200) around for years - all mechanical, very basic....any decent machine shop can build hundreds very quickly - all the F1 workshops could build them with their eyes shut.
    A very reliable, simple device that's been in hospital use for years.
    BTW, I'm a medical engineer

  • Comment posted by Craig, at 14:48 19 Mar 2020

    Well done Formula 1, it's a shame the Richard Branson's of this world couldn't do something rather than sit in his island retreat counting his millions while sending his staff home without pay, never mind he will be remembered for it.

  • Comment posted by sunil13uk, at 14:41 19 Mar 2020

    Brilliant news and something that should be expanded upon. The UK has the expertise, knowledge base and engineering. I hope and pray that all private enterprises be willing to help to battle this virus and maybe we should start with building the boris hospitals.

  • Comment posted by hippomanes, at 14:15 19 Mar 2020

    In the U.S. manufacturers have been asked to adapt ventilators for multi-person usage (off-label usage but apparently perfectly viable).
    I do hope this is being looked at in the UK. It might solve the horrendous shortfall...

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