F1: Briton Roberts Named F1 Medical Rescue Chief

Formula 1

F1: Briton Roberts Named F1 Medical Rescue Chief

A successor to F1 doctor Gary Hartstein has been appointed...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted January 17, 2013 Balen (BEL)

Silverstone chief medical officer Dr. Ian Roberts has been named the new FIA Formula One medical rescue coordinator. Pictured here, Formula One drivers crash on the first lap of the 2012 Belgian GP. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Silverstone chief medical officer Dr. Ian Roberts has been named as the new FIA Formula One medical rescue coordinator.

He replaces American Gary Hartstein, whose contract was not renewed by the FIA at the end of last season.

Roberts reports to Professor Jean-Charles Piette, the FIA’s permanent medical delegate to F1.

The FIA says that Roberts “is a consultant in anaesthesia and intensive care and a veteran HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) practitioner. He is vastly experienced in trackside emergency response and is best known within the motorsports community as the chief medical officer of the Silverstone Circuit.”

Responding to the news of his successor, Hartstein said: “Congrats to Ian. Would certainly have been on my short list. Really good doc, skilled leader, great guy.”

Adam Cooper notched up his 28th season as a racing journalist in 2012. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Follow him on Twitter.