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Formula 1 gave its fan a bionic prosthetic arm (video)
Last reviewed: 30.06.2025
Formula 1 fan Matthew James, 14, from Wokingham, Berkshire, received a letter from Mercedes GP Petronas team boss Ross Brawn informing him he would be getting a new bionic arm.
The boy was born without a left arm. For a long time, he walked with a prosthesis that could only imitate a human arm externally. Matthew wanted a more complex prosthesis, which cost £30,000. We are talking about the i-Limb Pulse prosthesis produced by Touch Bionics.
Matthew James decided to approach Ross Brawn directly and ask him for a new arm. The boy was invited to a tour of the Mercedes factory, while the F1 team contacted Touch Bionics. The two organizations agreed to exchange technologies used in cars and bionic prosthetics.
The new prosthesis has five individual motors in each finger. Therefore, each finger can move independently. The boy has already tried out the prosthesis. Now he easily opens cans and carries cups of tea.
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