AI driving Formula One, sport 'best showcase' for technology
Oracle Red Bull Racing executive Jack Harington says data and artificial intelligence are now central to every element of Formula One, from car design to race strategy.
Illustration: AI-generated image
Artificial intelligence is becoming the backbone of modern Formula One, and the sport now offers the clearest demonstration of what the technology can achieve, according to a senior executive at Oracle Red Bull Racing.
Jack Harington, the team's technical partnerships lead, told The National at Oracle AI World in Las Vegas that data "seeps through every element" of the racing business. He described F1 as a "hotbed for testing out technology" and said the rate of tech integration has increased dramatically in recent years.
Every car carries hundreds of sensors monitoring engine temperature, tyre pressure, brake wear and aerodynamic loads. While Mr Harington declined to state the exact number, the IMD business school has reported that between 300 and 600 sensors are fitted to each car. "These are data-driven monsters," he said, adding that engineers would like thousands more sensors, but each one adds weight that could slow the car.
During a single on-track session, the team collects around two terabytes of data, containing many millions of data points. Analysts use this information to understand tyre degradation and other known variables, while also preparing for unpredictable events such as yellow flags, red flags, safety cars or unexpected overtakes.
To plan race strategy, the team runs eight billion Monte Carlo simulations before each race weekend, then repeats the process after practice sessions using fresh data. If something happens during a race, the models can be updated live. The simulations have been moved to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, which Mr Harington said gives the team a major advantage because it can now "play war games" by modelling not just the fastest route from start to finish, but also how rival teams might react to any decision.
Formula One teams are increasingly working with major technology companies including Microsoft, AWS, Google and Oracle to run cloud-based analytics and optimize car design and race strategy. For fans in the Gulf, where the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is a highlight of the sporting calendar, the behind-the-scenes use of AI is likely to remain a key part of the sport's appeal.
