Formula One furloughs staff as bosses take pay cuts

Formula One F1 - Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia - March 13, 2020 Formula One group CEO Chase Carey during a press conference after it was announced the Australian Grand Prix would be cancelled after a McLaren team member tested positive for coronavirus [REUTERS/Tracey Nearmy/File Photo]

Formula One has put almost half its staff on furlough until the end of May due to the novel coronavirus with chairman Chase Carey and senior management also taking a pay cut, an F1 spokesman said on Tuesday.

Sources said those on furlough were mainly employees whose work was focused on race weekend activities and who could not carry out duties remotely. The Liberty Media-owned company employs in excess of 500 people.

The Formula One season has yet to start, with the March 15 season-opener in Australia cancelled along with the Monaco showcase in May.

Six other races have been postponed and Formula One hopes to start up sometime in the European summer, conditions permitting, with a reduced schedule of 15-18 races.

The spokesman said the senior leadership team had voluntarily taken a 20% pay cut but would remain at work while Carey, an American, had taken a bigger reduction.

Formula One gains most of its revenue from race promotion fees, broadcast deals and advertising and sponsorship which have all been stalled by the virus with most sport at a standstill globally.

Three of the seven British-based teams — McLaren, Williams and Racing Point - have also furloughed staff in the past week to cut costs.

Under the British government’s furlough scheme announced last month, employers can claim for 80% of employees’ usual monthly wage costs, up to 2,500 pounds ($3,068) per month.

The teams are currently on a factory shutdown, with the August break brought forward to allow space for race rescheduling.

The shutdown for all competitors and power unit manufacturers was extended on Tuesday from 21 to 35 days, all to be taken in March, April and/or May, the governing FIA announced.

It said the move was approved by an e-vote of the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council after unanimous agreement by the Formula One strategy group, F1 commission and all 10 teams.

Champions Mercedes, who supply engines to three teams, have repurposed their Brixworth technology centre to manufacture a new breathing aid for new coronavirus patients.

Forty machines that would normally produce F1 pistons and turbochargers are being used to make up to 1,000 a day of the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices.

Formula One teams have already agreed to delay until 2022 significant technical rule changes planned for 2021 and use the same cars next year to save money.

McLaren boss Zak Brown warned at the weekend that Formula One is in “a very fragile state” and risks losing some of its 10 teams unless some big changes are made.