Mercedes F1 drivers race suits to be auctioned for NHS

Mercedes have donated race overalls worn by Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas during the 2019 Formula 1 season to be auctioned off for NHS charities.

In a bid to raise money for the NHS amid the ongoing global coronavirus crisis, the Mercedes F1 team has donated a pair of race-worn suits used by its drivers Hamilton and Bottas last season to go under the virtual hammer at Bonhams Auctioneers online charity auction. 

Hamilton’s 2019 race suit currently stands at £2,800, while his teammate Bottas is at £800 in the online-only auction.

NHS workers are on the frontline in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 108,000 confirmed cases and more than 14,500 deaths in the UK.

There have been 27 verified deaths among NHS staff who have contracted coronavirus as of April 16 amid a shortage of suitable protective equipment.

Mercedes is working alongside the six other UK-based F1 teams to help develop and manufacture life-saving medical devices as part of the ‘Project Pitlane’ scheme following a call to arms from the UK government in March.

The seven teams have already contributed to the supply of more than 20,000 orders from the NHS for devices to treat coronavirus patients, as well as 10,000 breathing aid devices pioneered by Mercedes and University College London Hospital.

Mercedes has made its Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) design freely available for other firms to copy, while it has also worked alongside its principle partner INEOSS to manufacturer at least 5,000 PPE face shields for local hospitals around the team’s base.

McLaren is helping to develop protective equipment for frontline NHS workers, while the team’s former boss, Ron Dennis, has created a scheme to supply a million free meals to NHS staff during the ongoing crisis.