AI is transforming F1, with its presence across all teams set to accelerate, driving advancements in aerodynamics, strategy, and efficiency.
Artificial intelligence is becoming a significant topic in Formula 1.
While the FIA and F1 are not yet ready to regulate its use (read more here), they have pledged to monitor its development and utilisation by teams to prevent any misuse.
We asked James Allison, the Technical Director of Mercedes F1, to what extent AI and algorithms are already being employed behind the scenes by Formula 1 teams. Are they accelerating background processes like procurement and production to implement upgrades more rapidly? Is AI still a hidden battleground in F1?
“I don’t know how hidden it is, but in the area you just mentioned, ERP systems, ours are beginning to offer this capability.”
“And when we, as Mercedes and our network in general, are organised to exploit this capability, it will be easier to predict what you might need, when and how much it will cost, and it will be more efficient. But this is still a bit ahead of reality.”
“The areas where this is already happening are aerodynamics, a bit of race strategy, and AI is increasingly used to create surrogate models, to filter ideas, so you can, hopefully, run your ideas through a machine learning cluster that will give you an indication if it’s better than your last idea or give you a higher percentage chance that this idea is slightly better than the baseline.”
“And consequently, if you make this work efficiently, your lap time gain will be progressively a bit higher.”
“So yes, AI is revolutionising F1, it is already present in all the teams, and this will accelerate in the coming seasons.”
F1 Embraces AI Revolution: Speeding Towards the Future. F1 Embraces AI Revolution: Speeding Towards the Future
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