F1 announces charity auction to aid Australian bushfire victims

Formula 1 has announced it will hold a charity auction in aid of the victims of the Australian bushfires that continue to devastate parts of the country.

Ahead of the 2020 season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 15, F1 has today started an auction that will run up to February 16 to help raise funds for four charities, selected alongside the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.

The proceeds from the auction will be split between Red Cross Australia, Country Fire Authority Victoria, Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, and the WWF Australian Wildfire and Nature Recovery Fund.

The auction items include “the racing gloves and shoes used by Daniel Ricciardo during his first

season with Renault, the helmet that Kevin Magnussen will use in the next Australian Grand Prix, race suits from Alexander Albon and Max Verstappen (Aston Martin Red Bull Racing), Romain Grosjean (Haas F1 Team) and Daniil Kvyat (Scuderia Toro Rosso) as worn in the 2019 season.”

Fans can also bid on “a meet and greet in the Australian Grand Prix paddock with drivers from several teams, including from Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport, Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, from Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, Alexander Albon and Max Verstappen, from McLaren F1, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz, from SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team, Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll, from ROKiT Williams Racing, George Russell and Nicholas Latifi as well as with Mattia Binotto, Team Principal at Scuderia Ferrari, Toto Wolff, the Team Principal of six times world champion team Mercedes, and Claire Williams, Deputy Team Principal at Williams.

“Team factory visits are on offer from McLaren and Renault, and there’s a chance to train with the Renault Sport Academy and a Paddock Club Experience courtesy of Pirelli, to be on board of the FIA Safety Car for a hot lap at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne and to visit the Race Control Room during the Australian Grand Prix and have dinner with Ross Brawn, Managing Director, Motorsport at F1.”

The auction will run from January 22 to February 9 for experiences, and until February 16 for merchandise items.

All of the items will be available through www.f1authentics.com.

“Australia has always been and will continue to be a very special place for Formula 1. The Australian people are an integral part of our tight-knit community and we send our condolences to everyone affected by the awful fires,” the statement finishes.

“For those who do not wish to take part in the auction but would still like to send a donation, please consider the nonprofits listed above.”

The Australian Grand Prix is set to go ahead as planned in Melbourne, despite the bushfires impacting the air quality around the city, recently causing some interruptions at the Australian Open tennis tournament.