Seven UK-based Formula One (F1) teams are making significant progress towards answering the UK Government's call for assistance with the manufacture of medical devices to help in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Termed 'Project Pitlane', the combined effort are part of a UK industry-wide effort to manufacture and deliver respiratory devices to support the national crisis.

Following decisions taken this week by the UK Government, Project Pitlane is focused on three workstreams which 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.

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 will boost the wider engineering industry’s response.

The focus of Project Pitlane will now be to coordinate and answer the clear challenges that have been set.

The seven teams also remain ready to offer support in other areas requiring rapid, innovative technology responses to the unique challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.