How Formula 1 Uses AI: We are Checking
- Chris Howell
- Jul 5
- 5 min read
Introduction
A few months ago, Mercia AI ran an AI-Chatbot F1 Deep Research showdown to predict who would win the 2025 F1 Drivers’ Championship. Every tool—from ChatGPT to Grok—picked Lando Norris.
Oscar Piastri: "Hold my beer."
Now, with the British Grand Prix this weekend and F1: The Movie hitting the big screen, we’re diving into how AI is changing this high-tech, high-speed sport with millions of fans worldwide—including me.
When most people think of Formula 1, they picture roaring engines, lightning-fast pit stops, and thrilling wheel-to-wheel battles. But behind the glitz and glamour, there’s another kind of horsepower quietly shaping every decision: Artificial Intelligence.
Today’s F1 teams process over a million telemetry data points every second. Everything from tyre pressure and engine temperature to weather conditions, suspension loads, brake balance, and even driver biometrics is captured, crunched, and turned into insights—often in real time. In modern Formula 1, it’s not just man and machine—it’s man, machine, and machine learning.
AI isn’t just a futuristic idea—it’s embedded in the very DNA of how F1 teams operate: on the track, in the garage, back at the factory, and even in how fans experience the sport.
Race Strategy at 200mph
In a sport where milliseconds matter, a mistimed pit stop or tyre call can turn a podium finish into a points-less afternoon. That’s where AI steps in.
Machine learning models help teams:
Predict tyre degradation in changing conditions
Simulate hundreds of real-time strategy scenarios
Forecast track evolution and weather events
Estimate fuel and battery usage
Identify competitor behaviour and strategic threats
These systems process terabytes of live data, delivering insights directly into engineers’ headsets. Sometimes, a team has just a third of a lap to make a critical pit call. What once took hours now takes seconds. Some models even simulate potential safety car or red flag scenarios before they happen.
AI doesn’t just recommend the safest option—it can map out bold, risky strategies too. That’s why teams like Red Bull and Mercedes react so fast. It’s not gut instinct—it’s data-driven foresight.
Powering much of this innovation is AWS (Amazon Web Services). As F1’s official cloud and machine learning partner, AWS provides the infrastructure that makes real-time decision-making possible. From pit stop predictions to alternative race outcome simulations, AWS is now a crucial cog in the race strategy machine.
Smarter Design, Faster Development
Formula 1 is as much about engineering as it is about racing. Every team is chasing aerodynamic perfection—and AI is now central to that process.
Teams use AI to:
Accelerate CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations
Model airflow and part behaviour before manufacturing
Explore billions of setup combinations from telemetry data
Fine-tune weight distribution, cooling, and energy recovery systems
What once took weeks in a wind tunnel can now be achieved virtually in hours. AI tools help engineers uncover performance gains they might never have found using traditional methods. Even tiny changes to suspension geometry or brake duct design can have massive on-track impact.
It’s not just about going faster. AI also helps reduce environmental impact by analysing material use and optimising for sustainability.
AWS plays a major role here too, enabling high-performance computing (HPC) at scale. Their infrastructure allowed F1 to test the new 2022 car designs with advanced aerodynamic simulations, ultimately resulting in cars built for closer, more competitive racing.
Safety Gets an Upgrade
Keeping drivers safe is the sport’s top priority—and AI is lending a serious hand.
It’s used to:
Monitor car telemetry and detect anomalies in real time
Instantly alert medical teams during high-G impacts
Simulate crash scenarios for car and barrier improvements
Predict tyre or brake failures before they occur
Some teams are even testing AI systems that can automatically deploy safety alerts or temporarily slow cars in dangerous sectors—essentially a virtual race steward.
The FIA also uses AI-powered vision systems like the Track Limits Computer Vision tool to detect boundary violations. While stewards still make the final call, AI speeds up the process and improves consistency.
A New Era for Fans
AI isn’t just helping teams—it’s transforming how fans engage with the sport.
Thanks to partnerships with AWS, IBM, and others, viewers now benefit from:
Real-time broadcast graphics showing pit windows and pace trends
Battle forecasts and overtake probability stats
Augmented and virtual reality views of the race
AI-powered post-race summaries and analysis
AWS’s F1 Insights have become a staple in modern broadcasts, helping fans follow complex strategy in an accessible way. Behind the scenes, generative AI also helps broadcasters deliver stories, stats, and context in real time.
Apps like Ferrari’s IBM-powered fan platform deliver custom dashboards, visual telemetry breakdowns, and post-race reflections. Haas is even exploring AI-based fan updates via messaging platforms.
These tools close the gap between casual fans and seasoned analysts—making F1 more interactive and inclusive than ever before.
Designing Tracks with Data
Even the circuits themselves are going digital.
Formula 1 now lets fans design tracks online using AI tools that analyse:
Projected lap times and top speeds
Overtaking zones and pit stop strategies
Tyre degradation patterns and grip levels
Behind the scenes, engineers use machine learning to simulate how different layouts influence racing dynamics—from DRS effectiveness to dirty air behaviour.
AWS helped power simulations that influenced the current car regulations, ensuring tracks and cars work together to deliver better racing. AI is also used to optimise F1’s travel and logistics footprint—helping the sport move toward its Net Zero Carbon target by 2030.
Will AI Ever Replace the Driver?
Please God no!
As Kevin Magnussen put it, “AI may eventually drive cars more efficiently, but it’s not really entertainment anymore.”
The drama of F1 is human. It’s about bold overtakes, emotional radio messages, and the raw skill of a driver dancing on the edge. AI enhances—but doesn’t replace—the human element.
What it does do is empower drivers, strategists, and engineers with smarter, faster tools to make better decisions under pressure.
Final Thoughts
Formula 1 has always pushed the limits—first with engines, then with aerodynamics, and now with data.
AI is helping teams win races, shape cars, engage fans, and plan for the future. It’s not about replacing people—it’s about helping them perform at their peak.
And with AWS providing the backbone for many of these innovations, the F1-AI partnership is only accelerating.
If AI can deliver this level of precision and performance in the world’s most demanding sport, imagine what it could do for your business.
Want to bring that edge to your world? Book a Discovery Call with Mercia AI, and let’s see how fast you can go.
