Taking technology from the track into fighting outbreak

All three Banburyshire teams are part of Project Pitlane in the help to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

Project Pitlane is made up of seven UK-based F1 teams making significant progress towards the UK Government’s call for assistance with the manufacture of medical devices to help in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

During the past two weeks the seven teams – including Brackley-based world champions Mercedes-AMG Petronas, Banbury’s Haas F1 team and the Enstone-based Renault Sports F1 team – along with their respective technology arms in the sport, have made significant progress in defining and coordinating its response.

The seven teams’ combined efforts – termed Project Pitlane – are part of a UK industry-wide effort to manufacture and deliver respiratory devices to support the national need.

Following decisions taken by the UK Government, Project Pitlane is focussed on three work streams, varying in scope from reverse engineering existing medical devices, to support in scaling the production of existing ventilator designs as part of the Ventilator Challenge UK consortium, to the rapid design and prototype manufacture of a new device for certification and subsequent production.

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.

Meanwhile, following unanimous agreement between the FIA, F1 and all teams, the implementation of the technical regulations due to take effect from next season will be postponed until 2022.

Due to the currently volatile financial situation this has created, it has been agreed that teams will use their 2020 chassis for 2021, with the potential freezing of further components to be discussed in due course.

The introduction and implementation of the financial regulations will go ahead as planned in 2021, and discussions remain ongoing between the FIA, Formula 1 and all teams regarding further ways to make significant cost savings.

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