Artificial intelligence is transforming Formula 1 racing weekends, yet true success still depends on human creativity, instinct and experience.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the face of Formula 1.
It is not just a tool for the future, it is already reshaping every race weekend, especially for teams like McLaren.
Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, recently spoke about how AI is being integrated into the team’s daily operations. So what impact is it really having, and could it ever fully replace human engineers?
“We have a team focused entirely on emerging technologies. We are already using AI. I do not think it will ever replace human beings because there is something I call ‘driver instinct’ – the ability to understand the full environment. AI can deliver faster data and insights, helping us make smarter and clearer decisions.”
“But I do not believe AI will ever be the one deciding when to make a pit stop. What it can do is tell you what has historically happened, giving you the information to make a quicker call.”
AI is not just helping on track. It is also used in marketing and tire management, reflecting a culture at McLaren that embraces innovation.
“I tend to stick to what I know,” Brown admitted, “but in an F1 team you need people who love to experiment.”
AI also plays a crucial role in handling the enormous volume of data collected during a race weekend. The numbers are staggering.
“Formula 1 is the most technically advanced sport in the world. We gather about 1.5 terabytes of data each weekend. We run 50 million simulations.”
“A Formula 1 car is made up of around 75,000 parts. Over the course of a season, we change about 80 percent of them. It is a world of constant prototyping.”
McLaren’s technology partnerships with giants like Google, Dell, and Cisco are far more than sponsorships today.
“In the past it was just a logo on the car. Now it is true co-innovation, real storytelling, real solutions that make us faster.”
Could AI also unlock more creativity for engineers, particularly when it comes to finding loopholes or pushing the limits of regulations?
“The technical regulations are extremely sophisticated. Engineers think this way – unless something is explicitly forbidden, it is allowed. That is where creativity comes from. In terms of business operations, we actually have fewer rules compared to other sports. Technically it is highly regulated, but on the commercial side it is almost the Wild West.”
Today, is Zak Brown satisfied with McLaren’s technological edge?
“We are leading in every area. A thousand people work for just two cars. People are amazed when they hear that. Everything is custom built. And every race weekend is managed both at the track and back at our control center. It is like NASA – you have the astronauts in the rocket and the mission control team on the ground.”
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