McLaren to put staff on leave
British team’s management and drivers will take pay cut
McLaren became the first Formula One team to furlough staff because of the coronavirus, with drivers Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz joining senior management in taking a pay cut.
The sportscar maker said in a statement the temporary threemonth wage reduction was part of wider cost-cutting measures due to the impact of the pandemic on its business.
“These measures are focused on protecting jobs in the short-term to ensure our employees return to fulltime work as the economy recovers,” McLaren added.
A team spokesman emphasised that 100-150 staff from across the group who were working on a “VentilatorChallengeUK” project were not included in the measure.
The group, including the luxury carmaker and applied technology arm, employs 3,700 people with around 850 in the F1 team.
McLaren is part of a consortium of leading aerospace, engineering and Formula One racing companies who have joined forces to ramp up production of a ventilator made by Smiths Group which supports those with complications from the virus.
Britain has ordered 10,000 of the breathing machines.
The majority of the Formula One team, who are currently on a threeweek factory shutdown brought forward from August due to the season being on hold, will be furloughed from next week with McLaren making up some of the difference. Those not furloughed, from McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown downwards, will work on reduced pay.
The team spokesman said British 20-year-old Norris and Spaniard Sainz were adamant they too wanted to play their part.
With racing unlikely to start until the European summer at the earliest, F1 sources have said the teams – a majority based in Britain – are discussing extending the shutdown.