COVID-19: F1 to furlough half of its staff amid pandemic

Formula One has said its staff will be furloughed until May, while senior executives will take pay cuts amid the coronavirus pandemic.

PARIS 08 April, 2020 18:50 IST

Formula One trialled it's first triple-header in 2018, when the season was 21 races long, and there were concerns then about the impact on personnel. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Formula One says it will furlough half of its staff until the end of May and senior executives will take pay cuts amid the coronavirus pandemic.

F1 has postponed eight races so far this season and the Monaco Grand Prix has been canceled.

F1 says senior leadership figures will take voluntary pay cuts while still continuing to work and not in furlough. CEO Chase Carey will take a much deeper pay cut.

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The McLaren and Williams teams had already put some staff on furlough schemes. McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz have also taken pay cuts.

The season is currently scheduled to begin in France on June 28. F1 management has said it still hopes to hold between 15 and 18 races this year in place of the original 22.