David Coulthard

More than any other sport, Formula One has embraced a data-driven business culture, particularly as regards its near obsession with marginal gains and continuous improvement. Starting in the late 1980s, teams began to develop the ability to gather, process, store, and utilise information streams in order to better manage risk, optimise performance and guarantee outcomes. Data acquisition and analytics are now a cornerstone technology, enabling drivers, trackside engineers, and headquarters staff to determine precisely how the car and driver are behaving, diagnose issues, resolve problems, and speed up decision-making. As information flows seamlessly around the globe, linking cars, teams, and factories, data security is essential, and robust systems ensure protection from multiple threats. The use of simulators has transformed driver training, enabling systems to be learned, tested, and developed in a virtual environment before real-world deployment. With the advent of additive manufacturing, machine learning, and AI across Formula One, the sport’s use of Big Data to transform all aspects of its operations is set to accelerate further.

Formula One has a 2030 carbon neutral strategy for the cars, teams, events and World Championship operations. It is abandoning all fossil fuel use by the end of 2024 and already uses AI in manufacturing and race strategy. Formula 1 has been using petrol-electric hybrid engines since 2014, including the most energy-efficient engines ever produced, and is innovating a range of environmentally sustainable green technologies which will decarbonise the industry and provide wider relevance to transport. It has a very strong story to share about profound change in relation to abandoning fossil fuels and eliminating emissions.

In the high-stakes world of Formula One, designing and operating a vehicle that meets the rigorous safety, reliability, and performance standards requires unparalleled teamwork. With deadlines set by the Grand Prix calendar, the pressure is immense. Success hinges on the seamless collaboration of over a thousand staff members, from engineers in R&D to the pit crews executing precision stops in mere seconds. True teamwork is fostered by a culture of accountability, responsibility, and open communication, ensuring the team is aligned and adaptable to the ever-evolving technological landscape and competitive dynamics. Learn how to embrace the teamwork principles of F1 in your own team: not just excellence but continuous innovation and adaptability.