How Formula 1 shaved 30% off Cornwall Air Ambulance take-offs

The pit lane and the helipad have more in common than you might think.

Cornwall Air Ambulance featured in Sky Sports F1’s coverage of the British Grand Prix over the weekend, with a six-minute segment putting the Newquay charity in front of millions of motorsport fans during one of the biggest weekends in sport.

The footage was filmed back in April at the charity’s HQ, when representatives from four Formula 1 teams spent a day with the lifesaving crew. The goal was simple to say and hard to do. Take the precision, discipline and marginal-gains thinking that wins races and apply it to the minutes before a helicopter leaves the ground.

The result: 30% faster

Before the day, the average time for the crew to reach the air sat at five minutes. That was already quick. The charity has now reported that changes made as a direct result of the discussions and suggestions have cut its average take-off time by 30%, all while holding on to absolute safety and clinical standards.

What the F1 teams changed

Representatives from Aston Martin, Mercedes, McLaren and Williams met members of the crew, alongside the Technical Lead from Leonardo.

Two changes stand out.

The first was a quick start procedure for the helicopter. The teams identified that if pre-flight checks had been completed within a 24-hour window, a faster start-up could be used. That procedure is now in practice and has trimmed start-up time.

The second borrowed straight from the Formula 1 garage. Everything in the same place, every time. Zero searching, zero hesitation. The operational team have moved all the equipment needed for each mission to the last point of access before the helipad, creating a more efficient run to the aircraft. The point was to cut variation, not simply to move faster.

📷Lifesaving advancements achieved thanks to Cornwall Air Ambulance’s unique Formula 1 collaboration

More than kit and procedure

The day also covered teamwork, culture, communication and performing under pressure. The conversations kept circling back to how much the two worlds share, and how high-performance thinking matters in both.

The charity’s view is that improvement is continuous rather than event-driven. More follow-up adjustments are lined up to be trialled, with tasks still to be completed that could shave off further time.

“The beginning of a fantastic friendship”

Tim Bunting, Cornwall Air Ambulance’s CEO, said: “We are so grateful to the representatives from the Formula 1 teams who gave their time and expertise to ensure our day together led to real results. As we approach our 40th anniversary next year and as the UK’s first air ambulance service, days like these will help us ensure we continue to deliver the very best critical care across our region.

“The amazing coverage from Sky Sports at the weekend introduced millions of people to the service we provide to the people of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly 365 days a year – and indeed highlighted the important work of air ambulances across the country. We have no doubt that the changes implemented, and still to be implemented, from the day will lead to critical care reaching our patients even quicker and we hope this is just the beginning of a fantastic friendship between our organisation and Formula 1.”

The Cornwall link to the paddock

The idea came from Cornwall Air Ambulance’s Chairman David Richards, who also chairs Motorsport UK and is a former Formula 1 team principal. David’s close connections across the sport put him in the right place to make the collaboration happen.

Sky Sports F1’s coverage was led by broadcaster and former racing driver Karun Chandhok, who brought his own insight and knowledge to the discussions on the day.

📷Lifesaving advancements achieved thanks to Cornwall Air Ambulance’s unique Formula 1 collaboration