A Renault F1 employee has been found dead at the French concern's Oxfordshire headquarters, it has emerged – with speculation that a firearm was involved in the tragedy.

According to local newspapers the Banbury Guardian and Oxford Mail, paramedics were called to the team's Enstone base – which employs some 500 staff – at around 11:20am on Wednesday (30 July), with an ambulance spokesman confirming that a 53-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Though police would only reveal that officers were called to the factory and a Renault security officer declined to comment on the incident, there are unconfirmed reports that a firearm was involved. The man was said to have been walking down a bridleway close to the factory when a shot was heard.

Police are continuing to investigate the death – which is not being treated as suspicious – with a post mortem being carried out today (1 August).

The team is this weekend competing in the Hungarian Grand Prix, the eleventh round on the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship calendar.