The legendary designer of the iconic McLaren F1 has made a multi-million donation to a Surrey hospital charity in thanks for saving his life.

Professor Gordon Murray CBE had robotic-assisted surgery at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in 2024 after a routine acid reflex trust led to a cancer diagnosis, writes Lucy Packer.

The operation was so successful that the Formula 1 legend and his wife gave a hefty sum to the Royal Surrey Hospital Charity to buy a new robotic surgical system.

Professor Murray recently returned to the hospital to see the robot, which he named after the late Beatles guitarist and friend, Sir George Harrison.

His treatment was so successful that the motoring visionary was back in the fast lane within ten days, spending long hours designing high-performing cars.

“Donating a da Vinci 5 robot seemed to be the best way to say thank you,” said Professor Murray in thanking Professor Shaun Preston and the surgical team.

Professor Murray was invited to name other robots in the hospital fleet so he kept with the Fab Four theme, going with John, Paul and Ringo. The final robot was named Bob after the singer-songwriter, Bob Dylan.

Professor Shaun Preston operated the system from a console in which the robot made a minimally invasive incision during the operation.

Robot assisted surgeries are trusted by more than 30 surgeons at Royal Surrey and it’s one of the few centres in the UK to have carried out more than 10,000 operations.

Louise Stead, Group Chief Executive of Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are incredibly grateful to Gordon and Stella Murray for this extraordinary gift to Royal Surrey Charity.”

She added: “Their generous donation will help more patients access this advanced treatment, helping them return to the people and activities that matter most.”