Dr. Ian Roberts has been appointed as the new Medical Rescue Coordinator for Formula One and will work with the FIA rescue team as a replacement to Gary Hartstein whose term began in 2005 and ended late 2012. 

Dr. Robert will be deployed to the track in the F1 medical car and his role will involve supervising the response of the local medical team. He will report to Professor Jean-Charles Piette, who is FIA’s permanent medical delegate and oversees emergency operations from race control. 

FIA’s decision to terminate Hartstein’s contract had led the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) to seek an explanation from the governing body for his dismissal despite his willingness to continue with them. Gary has spent over twenty two years in Formula One and the 2012 United States Grand Prix was his 247th Grand Prix.

Pedro de la Rosa, who is chairman of the GPDA, said, “All I can say is that Gary is someone who we feel extremely comfortable with.” Paying tribute to the ‘outstanding job’ Gary has done over the years, De la Rosa added, “We need people like him who are experienced and that know us all very well. That makes a big difference when you have to be in the hands of the doctor. He knows exactly who we are, what we are and he knows our personalities.” 

Meanwhile, new appointee Roberts is a consultant in anesthesia and intensive care, and a veteran HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) practitioner. He has a strong background in motorsport as he has been the chief medical officer of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone for many years. He’s also an advisor to many motorsport medical advisory panels such as those of the FIA institute and the UK Motor Sports Association.