In Formula 1®, every millisecond matters, and split-second calls often define the outcome of a race. Behind every decision lives a constant flow of data: every second, 1.1 million data points are generated by over 300 sensors mounted on each car. Information is captured securely and delivered instantly to F1’s broadcast teams, the FIA, and the racing teams – enabling quick, data-driven decisions.
Traditionally, telemetry data collected at the circuit would travel back and forth between F1’s on-track Event Technical Centre (ETC) and its Media and Technology Centre (M&TC) in Biggin Hill, UK, before being shared with all relevant stakeholders. But with the increase in the amount of data the sport is now producing, Formula 1 needed a more efficient way to streamline operations and decrease the lag between data capture and delivery.
Enabled by Lenovo’s powerful ThinkSystem SR650 V3 and ThinkSystem DE4000F servers deployed as a virtualization platform in the ETC, and Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra workstations, Formula 1 has shifted the processing and deduplication of around 8TB of telemetry data per race weekend directly to the circuit. This reduces the latency in delivering data to the F1 teams by up to 0.3 seconds – as measured at the most geographically distant races on the calendar.
“With 22 cars on the grid, we receive more telemetry data than ever before. That’s why, at the beginning of the 2026 season, we decided it was time to streamline how we process critical car information, such as engine performance, suspension status, gearbox and fuel, G-forces and even the actuation of controls by the driver,” commented Chris Roberts, Director of IT at Formula 1. “0.3 seconds might seem like a small margin, but it can make a decisive difference in a sport measured in thousandths of a second.”
By using Lenovo’s hardware infrastructure, F1 racing teams now receive critical telemetry data faster, enabling quicker decisions on the pit wall, contributing to even more dynamic racing on track.
