ROKiT Williams Racing has joined McLaren in furloughing employees amid the COVID-19 pandemic as its F1 drivers and senior management have agreed for pay cut.
Last week, McLaren confirmed to FormulaRapida.net that they have indeed furloughed certain number of employees due to COVID-19 pandemic, while its management along with F1 drivers Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris took a pay cut.
The same is to happen with Williams F1 drivers George Russell and Nicholas Latifi along with its senior management. They have noted that it is a 20 percent cut from April 1. At the same time, the British outfit has confirmed furlough for certain employees.
The F1 team will use the UK Government’s initiative where they are to take care of the salaries of furloughed employees. Williams have noted that they will be furloughed until May. The full statement from the British outfit reads:
“Due to the ongoing situation involving Covid-19, ROKiT Williams Racing is temporarily furloughing a number of employees as part of a wider range of cost-cutting measures. The furlough period will last until the end of May whilst senior management, and our drivers, have taken a pay cut of 20% effective from 1st April. 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.”
The news of furlough doesn’t comes as a surprise as McLaren head Zak Brown was convinced that other teams will follow suit. In fact, the American is also concerned about certain F1 teams’ future until the budget cap is lowered for 2021 and beyond.
Here’s Zak Brown on future concerns
Here’s Nicholas Latifi in Veloce ESports and here’s podium for Williams in F1 Virtual GP
Here’s Nicholas Latifi on Williams FW43
Here’s details on McLaren cutting pay of drivers too
Here’s Mercedes helping under Project Pitlane
