Seven Formula 1 teams who are working to assist the UK Government to combat the Covid-19 pandemic will unite their resources and come together as “Project Pitlane.”
One week ago, all seven UK-based F1 teams agreed to aid UK health authorities by developing ventilators for hospitals which have quickly become inundated with covid-19 patients.
Since last week, F1 has released a statement explaining the collective has
“made significant progress in defining and co-ordinating its response to the UK government’s call for assistance”.
Many of these F1 teams also have advanced engineering arms that contributes to non-racing projects. These groups have also been called to aid amid the urgent situation and, together, they would aim to develop new, innovative technologies that will further assist the cause.
In a statement from Formula 1 it was announced that “Project Pitlane” has been founded to aid three key areas of the UK’s industrial response to the ongoing pandemic crisis.
“These workstreams vary in scope from reverse engineering existing medical devices, to support in scaling the production of existing ventilator designs as part of the VentilatorChallengeUK consortium, to the rapid design and prototype manufacture of a new device for certification and subsequent production,”
read F1’s statement.
“In each instance, Project Pitlane will pool the resources and capabilities of its member teams to greatest effect, focusing on the core skills of the F1 industry: rapid design, prototype manufacture, test and skilled assembly.
“F1’s unique ability to rapidly respond to engineering and technological challenges allows the group to add value to the wider engineering industry’s response.
“The focus of Project Pitlane will now be on coordinating and answering the clear challenges that have been set.
“The seven teams remain ready to support in other areas requiring rapid, innovative technology responses to the unique challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Overnight, 141 people in the UK died due to the virus, taking the total number of deaths to 759. Prime Minister Borris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock have also both tested positive.
More than 14,500 people within the UK have now been infected.
