When the Formula One World Championship began in 1950, communication with a driver and car was done on a pitboard between laps and feedback from the driver between sessions. In 2021, it's about teams of engineers efficiently managing and explaining gigabytes of data in an instant.
F1 cars have evolved through the decades, becoming faster and more advanced through rapid development, but a similar technological race has taken place off-track too.
When computer data first arrived in F1, it didn't immediately revolutionise race engineering; instead it helped the team at the track manage the life-cycle of essential components, such as the engine.
Over time, however, the focus switched to performance engineering as data systems evolved to incorporate the many facets of an F1 car, from brake and tyre temperatures to chassis behaviour.
In tandem with advanced electronics, which enable drivers to control a myriad of car behaviours from the steering wheel, the data race is pivotal to Grand Prix success.
Where the challenge was once making sure the driver could see relevant information on the pitboard, now it's about filtering through reams of data to find relevant insight for the race team.
Global Partner NetApp is a real asset in managing the data, as Head of Trackside Support Tim Wright and Race Support and Strategy Engineer Oliver Knighton explain.
How telemetry has evolved in F1
Telemetry in modern-day F1 is unrecognisable from previous eras. What started with a stopwatch has become a real-time feed of detailed data insights direct from the car. Discover how our understanding of car performance has evolved and how NetApp tech is key to that process.
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