Formula One driver Mark Webber raced into Watford General this week to open the hospital’s new intensive care unit (ICU)and offer his view on Britain’s new sporting darling.

The Australian racing star made the short journey from his Buckinghamshire home yesterday afternoon to join staff for the formal opening of the ICU at the Vicarage Road hospital.

The ultra-modern unit came into operation two months ago when the contents of the old department were transferred into the bright new facility.

The old unit will now undergo a similar face-lift before combining with the new facilities as one of the biggest and most sophisticated intensive care units in the region.

Having cut the ribbon and been given a tour of the hospital Mr Webber said: " I’ve done a lot things in hospitals in Australia and with kids with illnesses and obviously this one is on my doorstep so it is easy for me to come and have a look at some of the great work going on.”

The hospital managed to secure Mark’s services as a staff member has contacts with his Milton Keynes- based race team, Red Bull.

However, the 32-year-old driver said he was thrilled to keep up to date with the latest medical advances.

He added: “It is great to see how technology moves on because you never know when you are going to be in the situation of needing a hospital.

“It is nice to see there are so many good people out there to help you recover.”

The new 19-bed ICU will be fully opened later this month.

Inside, each bed is fitted with a new over-hanging “beam”, which is fitted to the ceiling and powers each piece of life-saving machinery.

It means loose and potentially dangerous cables are a thing of the past and allows more doctors to get around the bed.

All the curtains are also disposable to help minimalise the threat of dangerous infections.

Sarah Lafbery, acting matron, said staff and patients had already settled into the new unit.

She said: "We have windows which we never had before, so we can see if it is night or day now!”

“The transformation has been so dramatic and staff morale has doubled.”

Chief executive of the West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust Jan Filochowski said: “It is a beautiful new unit - it is spacious, it has state-of-the-art fittings and it is an increase in size from twelve to 19 beds so we can cater for all the intensive care needs for the local population.”

Before leaving, Mr Webber offered his verdict on racing prodigy Lewis Hamilton’s Formula One triumph on Sunday.

The driver, who came ninth in the same race, said: “Lewis deserves it. He drove some amazing races during the year.

“Sunday was an amazing race and you guys now have the youngest world champion ever so you should be pretty proud.”