Ferrari join the battle against COVID-19

Jamie Woodhouse
Ferrari join battle against COVID-19.

Ferrari join battle against COVID-19.

Ferrari have begun producing valves for respirators and protective masks, joining Formula 1’s fight against COVID-19.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact the world, Ferrari have announced that they are using their car prototype and factory in Maranello to produce thermoplastic components in an effort to increase the output of medical equipment to fight the virus.

Ferrari are producing valves for respirators and face masks with their machines at Maranello.

They follow Mercedes who have transformed their Brixworth engine factory to produce a breathing aid which is less invasive than a ventilator – they have already produced 10,000 of them.

McLaren and working with Ford and Airbus to develop a new ventilator, while Red Bull and Renault had started a project together to design a new ventilator, but it was stopped because it wasn’t suitable for treating patients with coronavirus.

Ferrari are also working with Mares and Solid Energy to turn diving equipment into emergency medical masks for carers to treat patients in their native Italy.

In a statement Ferrari said: “In the next few days, Ferrari plans to manufacture several hundred items of equipment that are already being distributed by some of the companies involved, with the coordination of the Italian Civil Protection, to various Italian hospitals including those in Bergamo, Genoa, Modena, and Sassuolo as well as to health workers in the town of Medicina, near Bologna.”

Follow us on Twitter @Planet_F1 and like our Facebook page.