Haas become fifth Formula One team to furlough UK staff

Drivers Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean reported to have agreed to a pay cut

Haas' Romain Grosjean is pushed into the pits during the pre-season testing in Barcelona. Reuters

Haas Formula One team have become the latest to furlough their employees due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Haas have furloughed most of their British-based employees, meaning half of the grid has now taken similar measures.

McLaren, Williams, Racing Point and Renault had already taken that step.

Seven of the 10 teams are based in Britain, with only champions Mercedes and Red Bull yet to announce salary reductions.

The F1 website stated that Haas drivers Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean were also believed to have agreed to a pay cut.

Under the British government's furlough scheme, employers can claim for 80 per cent of employees' usual monthly wage costs up to £ 2,500 (Dh11,400) per month.

Formula One teams are currently on a mandatory factory shutdown, brought forward from August in the hope of using the European summer to reschedule some of the postponed races.

The season has yet to start, and Formula One bosses are looking at a range of options, including holding races into the New Year if necessary.