Gen.T+
The two giants come together to push the boundaries of motorsports using cutting-edge technology
Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsports, with cars that routinely exceed 300km/h and produce up to 7g of lateral force—the same experienced by fighter pilots. These are among the most sophisticated vehicles in the world today, each maintained by a team of seasoned engineers, mechanics and more. With a global audience in the hundreds of millions, the Grands Prix themselves are highly complex affairs supported by thousands of broadcasters, event organisers, media managers and other professionals.
To keep every moving part of this machine running smoothly, F1 has partnered with technology company Lenovo to develop an IT infrastructure that can withstand the event’s demands and breakneck pace of innovation.
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“We need to synchronise a million and one moving pieces in perfect harmony for each race weekend,” explains Chris Roberts, IT director at F1. To improve productivity, mobility and security throughout its operations, Roberts shares that the organisation is “increasingly relying on Lenovo’s hardware devices, as well as high-performance computing and server solutions, to do that. Lenovo’s great portfolio—from laptops, desktops, monitors, tablets and Motorola smartphones—has greatly contributed to our ability to meet this challenge head-on.”
Indeed, F1’s IT infrastructure must overcome various challenges, one of which is the sheer volume of data generated. On one level, this is a global sports organisation that, by extension, produces a massive amount of data on its own. Separately, every individual car is also generating a huge amount of data points, from the steering angle and G-force generated to the audio and video captured by each camera and microphone. Collecting all this data and transforming it into interesting content for fans in real time puts a huge demand on the tech infrastructure that Lenovo has helped to meet.
Nigel Lee, country general manager for Lenovo Singapore, cites the above as an example of how technology can drive an organisation’s intelligent transformation. He also notes Lenovo’s role in supporting F1’s drive for greater sustainability. “Lenovo’s Asset Recovery Services has helped F1 to develop and implement a sustainable disposition strategy for the hardware that it cycles through,” Lee says. “Through responsible reuse and recycling, F1 is leading the industry toward more sustainable practices in motorsports.”
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