The six on-screen graphics utilise Machine Learning to analyse real-time data gathered from F1 cars.
Formula One is adding six real-time racing stats to its 2020 season. The on-screen graphics have been created using a range of Amazon Web Services (AWS) services, including machine learning.
The first of the stats – Car Performance Scores – will be unveiled at the season opening Grand Prix in Spielberg, Austria on 3-5 July.
Car Performance Scores is an on-screen graphic that provides fans with a breakdown of a car’s total performance using four metrics – low-speed cornering; high-speed cornering; straight line; and car handling.
These will be compared to the other cars to provide the car’s relative performance in those areas.
Each F1 race car has 300 sensors generating more than 1.1 million data points per second. These are transmitted from the cars to the pit, and are processed and analysed by the AWS services to provide the new stats.
The six stats announced today are in addition to the six F1 Insights (exit speed; predicted pit stop strategy; pit window; battle forecast; pit strategy battle; and tyre performance) that are already created using AWS.
To create all the insights, Formula 1 will use 70 years of historical race data stored in Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3), combined with live data streamed from the car sensors to the cloud through Amazon Kinesis.
Machine Learning models with Amazon SageMaker enables F1 to analyse race performance metrics in real-time.
All the insights will be integrated into the international broadcast feed of F1 races around the globe, including its digital platform F1.tv.
The six new F1 stats are
Car Performance Scores: Isolates an individual car’s performance and enables race fans to compare its performance to that of different vehicles head-to-head (debuts 3-5 July at the Formula 1 Rolex Grosser Preis Von Österreich Grand Prix 2020).
Ultimate Driver Speed Comparison: Makes it possible for fans to see how their favourite drivers compare to other drivers in history, dating back to 1983, to help determine the fastest driver of all time (debuts 7-9 August at the Emirates Formula 1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix 2020).
High-Speed/Low-Speed Corner Performance: Allows fans to see how well drivers tackle the fastest bends on the track travelling at more than 175 kph/109 mph and slow cornering (below 125 kph/78 mph) compared to other vehicles, which is critical to lap time (debuts 28-30 August at the Formula 1 Rolex Belgian Grand Prix 2020).
Driver Skills Rating: Breaks down and scores driver skills, based on the most important factors for overall performance, to help identify the best ‘total driver’ on the track. By calculating varying subsets of qualifying round performance, starts, race pace, tire management, and overtaking/defending styles, this insight will provide an overall driver ranking (debuts the second half of the season).
Car/Team Development & Overall Season Performance: As the season unfolds, this will plot a team’s cumulative performance from race to race to uncover the development rates of each team (debuts the second half of the season).
Qualifying and Race Pace Predictions: Gather data from practice and qualifying laps to predict which team is poised for success ahead of each race session. These predictions will create heightened intrigue and excitement for the Saturday qualifying session and Sunday race (debuts the second half of the season).
Rob Smedley, chief engineer of Formula 1, said: “Over the past two years, Formula 1 has embraced AWS’s services to perform intense and dynamic data analysis. The F1 Insights we’re delivering together are bringing fans closer to the track than ever before, and unlocking previously untold stories and insights from behind the pit wall.”
Mike Clayville, vice president, worldwide commercial sales at AWS, adds: “Formula 1 racing mixes physics and human performance, yielding powerful, but complex data that AWS is helping them to harness. Our existing relationship with F1 has already produced statistics that have brought fans into the race paddocks, and our study of race car aerodynamics is influencing vehicle designs for the 2022 season.”