Thursday 17 July at 13:29 : Staff at Red Bull's formula one factory, including Australian driver Mark Webber, were evacuated on Wednesday following a fire alarm.

Four fire engines were dispatched to the Milton-Keynes (UK) facility after a component went up in smoke, producing hazardous fumes, just before lunch.

A team spokesman confirmed: "While carrying out some testing on development items for the future an electrical component failed and gave off a lot of smoke.

"This set off the smoke detectors and fire alarms.

"In accordance with drills practised regularly at the factory, Building 1 was evacuated."

The spokesman insisted that the incident will have "absolutely no effect" on preparations for this weekend's German grand prix at Hockenheim.