Italian luxury carmaker Ferrari have suspended all production at their Formula 1 and road car factories in Italy for two weeks in a further bid to protect their employees amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

Production will stop immediately at the Maranello and Modena factories, which are in the region hardest hit by the coronavirus, until Mar 27, Ferrari said in a statement. 

"This measure has been taken in the interest of employees and following a series of rigorous measures already taken to ensure onsite security," the firm said. 

The 2020 F1 season has been delayed with the last-minute cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix which was scheduled for the past weekend.  

The resumption date is yet unclear, but no one else has halted production, which means all teams will continue to develop their cars during the delay. 

Insiders say Ferrari cannot afford to slow down development to stay competitive, and two weeks of suspension will likely put the team at a disadvantage. 

(With input from agencies)