The organisation behind the Mexico City Grand Prix is part of a group that has helped turn a convention centre into a temporary medical unit that will treat coronavirus patients.
Formula 1 returned to Mexico in 2015 with Grupo CIE organising and promoting the event, which takes place at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City.
CIE also operates Mexico City’s largest convention centre – Centro Citibanamex – and it has been converted into a medical unit that is intended to alleviate pressure from permanent hospitals in the capital.
The temporary unit will have a capacity of 854 beds for patients requiring oxygen therapy and once complete Mexico City’s Health Ministry will assume direction of the facility.
CIE was one of the participants in donating $700m Pesos (approximately $29.5m USD) for the planning and conversion of the convention centre.
The Fundación Carlos Slim, Fundación Telmex Telcel, Fundación Inbursa, Walmart México y Centroamérica, Bimbo, Barcel, Fundación Sertull, Citibanamex, Fundación Alfredo Harp Helú, Fundación Coca Cola México, Coca Cola FEMSA, Goldman Sachs, Codere, HSBC and Coppel were the other 15 companies and foundations involved in the project.
Formula 1 was originally scheduled to visit Mexico City later this year, with a date of November 1 confirmed, but the coronavirus pandemic has left each event as uncertain.
Championship officials are understood to be working on a plan that means the season can get underway in Austria, followed by a round in Britain, with several ideas on its structure being discussed.
