VIDEO: Newbury paramedic takes on Formula 1 driver

Alex Knapton trades three-tonne ambulance for 200mph Ferrari

A Newbury paramedic, used to driving a three-tonne ambulance, swapped his blue lights for a Ferrari recently and faced off against four-time world champion Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel.

The Formula 1 ace took part in the “job-swap” with South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust paramedic Alex Knapton on July 11.

Alex, who was worked for SCAS for the last four years, traded tips with the F1 driver on high performance driving before getting behind the wheel of Vettel’s Ferrari 488 GTB.

The pair then went head to head for a lap of the track at Milton Keynes with Vettel steering the ambulance.

Watch a video of the race here:

Talking about his experience Alex said: “Getting the opportunity to swap the ambulance for the Ferrari 488 GTB was a dream come true.

“It was an unbelievable experience to get that close to one of the stars of Formula 1.

“Sebastian was on great form coaching on high performance driving tips and joking about the lack of a stereo system in the ambulance.”

Sebastian Vettel said: “Paramedics play an essential role in motorsport around the world and not just in Formula 1.

“They need to perform to such high standards every day because people’s lives depend on them.”

Despite the 200mph Ferari hardware Vettel still managed to win the lap in the ambulance with a time of 2:10:48 compared to Alex’s time of 2:17:00.