Formula 1 (F1) has renewed and expanded its partnership with Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), making the world’s most comprehensive cloud platform a Global Partner. The collaboration will usher in a new era of sports innovation and digital transformation. AWS and F1 share a passion for technological advancement and will collaborate to create the fan experience of the future.
Furthermore, AWS and F1 launched the most recent F1 Insights, which will debut during the upcoming F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final race of the 2022 season, which was held on November 20, 2022. The new ‘Track Dominance’ graphic included a track map divided into performance sectors to show fans and commentators where a driver is outperforming his competitors around the circuit.
“Since 2018 AWS and Formula 1 have worked hand in hand to deliver insight and analysis for all our fans. Together we have successfully delivered the speed, scalability, and reliability Formula 1 requires to bring the expert analysis and insights to all our audiences and stakeholders. AWS has the global reach, partner community, and breadth and depth of cloud services that help Formula 1 engage with fans in multiple markets. We look forward to the next chapter of this powerful partnership which is central to F1’s fan experience and growth strategy over the coming years,” said Brandon Snow, Managing Director – Commercial at Formula 1.
A more detailed ‘Telemetry Comparison’ data overview will allow for a more in-depth analysis of who is spending all of their time in the corners and who is speeding down the straights. The Track Dominance map, as well as the speed of each car and the delta time between the drivers at each point around the circuit, will be displayed in this graphic. Using AWS machine learning technology, these insights will provide fans with a more in-depth look at driver and car performance, as well as race day tactics.
F1 is a data-driven sport, with 300 sensors on each race car generating more than 1.1 million data points per second transmitted from the cars to the pit. Since 2018, F1 and AWS have collaborated to innovate, using data to improve the performance of both the vehicle and the driver. F1 was able to run aerodynamic simulations on AWS’s high-performance computing to develop its next generation car, reducing turbulence, improving downforce in the trailing car, and increasing race excitement.
F1 has been able to turn millions of data points transmitted from cars and trackside into an engaging fan experience using AWS machine learning (ML) through 20 data-driven F1 Insights that offer unique race strategy, car performance, and competitor insights. F1 enables fans to understand how drivers make split-second decisions and how teams devise and implement race strategies in real time that impact the outcome of a race by using distinct data points to inform each insight.
Through the power of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and cloud technologies, the renewed joint technical venture between AWS and F1 will explore new, unique, and innovative ways for fans to enjoy F1. F1 and AWS technical experts will collaborate to develop solutions in motorsport, media and data architecture, future track designs, and delivery of regionalised media offerings, as well as exploring the fusion of gaming, live event, and live action experiences.
F1 prioritizes sustainability as it strives to achieve Net Zero Carbon status by 2030. The collaboration with AWS will continue to investigate opportunities for long-term solutions across the sport, building on previous efforts to reduce freight and personnel travel through remote production capabilities.
STEM talent is critical to F1 and AWS, and it will receive increased attention as a result of the successful AWS Deep Racer and AWS Gameday programs run in collaboration with F1. These programs provide direct access to technology-related entertainment, competition, and education via F1-themed platforms, providing fans with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn and develop machine learning and artificial intelligence skills.
Matt Garman, Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Global Services of AWS said: “AWS helps companies push the limits of what their data can do. With such a data-driven sport as F1, this partnership has been a natural fit – helping the sport better utilize, analyse and act upon data to deliver insights to fans that weren’t possible before this collaboration. Leveraging the power of the world’s leading cloud, F1 is engaging with its growing global fan base in unique ways. Their vision and execution for digital transformation is impressive and we are excited F1 has selected AWS to continue to innovate together.”
CAA Sports helped facilitate this renewed partnership through its global representation of F1.
