Oxfordshire-based Formula 1 team Williams places some staff on furlough

Williams driver George Russell - David Davies/PA Wire.

The team's drivers and senior management will take a 20% pay cut.

Grove-based F1 team ROKiT Williams have put “a number of employees” on furlough “as part of a wider range of cost-cutting measures.” The team says it will last until May. 

Willams said in a statement “These decisions have not been taken lightly, however our aim is to protect the jobs of our staff at Grove and ensuring they can return to full-time work when the situation allows.”

Like almost all global sports, the coronavirus pandemic has thrown the F1 calendar into disarray with the first seven of the races cancelled.  

The move from the local team is similar to a step taken by McLaren last week, as well as some clubs in the Premier League. 

Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) also released a statement today saying that they will “evaluate the calendar of its forthcoming races and, if necessary, take any action required to help protect the global motor sport community and wider public.”