A couple of weeks ago, I went behind the scenes with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Formula 1 at the Canadian Grand Prix to see how the growing racing sport leverages data and technology. Formula 1 and AWS have officially been in business together since 2018. In the past six years, the pair have harnessed various technologies to track data, broadcast races, provide F1 Insights, and much more.

Of all the things Formula 1 and AWS are working on, the companies made it clear that they believe in generative AI tech, and they’re using it as much as possible.

Generative AI in Formula 1

During the Canadian Grand Prix, Boardroom was the first to share the news about Formula 1 and AWS’s debut of the first-ever generative AI-designed trophy. This weekend at the Spanish Grand Prix, Formula 1 and AWS debuted Statbot, an internal generative AI chatbot for Formula 1’s broadcast product team that can analyze Formula 1 historical data to pull key facts and statistics they typically would have to dig around for themselves. These findings are then used in the broadcast to better inform fans tuning into races. These are just a few examples of how the pair have leveraged generative AI tech in the sport.

Neil Ralph, Principal Industry Specialist in AWS’ sports division, said during an exclusive presentation at the Canadian Grand Prix that the use of generative AI during Formula 1 broadcasts has made the barrier for entry into understanding the sport a lot lower. Ralph said since Netflix’s Drive to Survive docuseries, a whole new generation of Formula 1 fans are interested in the sport, and it’s his job to help them understand what’s going on via data and insights.

“Formula 1 as a broadcast is very hard to follow through the pure use of video, so we use data to tell stories about the 20 cars that surround the five-kilometer track,” Ralph said. “It’s a bit different to following a pitch-based sport where all the action is in one place.”

Generative AI is helping educate and entertain Formula 1 fans across the globe, especially those watching from afar. This is why Formula 1 and AWS began refining how they leverage tech to capture every single movement on the track.

The Formula 1 Broadcast Operation

Formula 1 attracts a worldwide audience of over 1.5 billion fans each race, so it makes sense that it has to deploy an intercontinental remote production system.

Prior to the pandemic, Formula 1 ran its broadcast operation on the ground at each race. The sport had to get nimble and move most of those operations to a remote outpost, and once it accomplished that, it kept up with the process. Race week really kicks off for each Grand Prix when the construction crew charged with building the Event Technical Center gets on the ground. It takes five days to construct Formula 1’s media headquarters, which is capable of transmitting hundreds of terabytes of data to its remote operations in London at the remodeled Media and Technology Center at its Biggin Hill base.

Formula 1’s media center at each race requires 375 square meters of space, as it houses 750 pieces of equipment, which also includes 36 miles of fiber cabling. Aside from the hundreds of cameras and microphones installed around the track, Formula 1 also puts at least seven cameras directly onto each car to capture up-close content. Up to 90 cameras are active on the vehicles during the races, though all of them can’t stream all at once.

The TV gallery at Biggin Hill features over 400 screens, including some dedicated to the producing team at each race. As the Event Technical Center transmits data to the Biggin Hill base, various graphics are made to accompany race content.

Capturing data is just as important as capturing the race on video, which is why Formula 1’s broadcast operation has to be so robust.

Advanced Tech at Formula 1

Pete Samara, Formula 1’s Director of Innovation and Digital Technology, said while generative AI isn’t the only tech the organization is focused on, it’s started a bigger conversation about how Formula 1 is using tech in the most innovative ways. The company will continue to use AWS tech to transform how teams communicate, how fans experience races at home, how insights are shared across the board, and much more.

“One thing we are very clear on [is] we are only augmenting our teams. We are not replacing them,” Samara said. “That’s not in our vision nor will we be going there. This is about how do we make people be more effective in their roles. For us, it’s all about augmentation rather than replacement.”

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong recently sat down with Boardroom’s co-founder  Rich Kleiman to talk about the future of AI, his company’s inception, and how to stay grounded as his empire grows. Watch the latest installment of Boardroom Talks here. 

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