Mastering Data-Driven Excellence: Lessons from High-Performance Environments

What can we learn from drivers who are considered the best in the world enduring extreme mental demands, high G-forces and split-second decision-making?

You may not be interested in cars, but if you love data – I urge you to read on and learn how data is used in this sport. We can learn a lot from companies that have perfected the art of using data, people, processes, technology and innovation and apply this in our own way.

If you have not guessed, I am going to draw inspiration here about data from the world of Formula 1 (F1) racing. It is the ultimate pinnacle of racing with a rich prestige and history. They have been using data and AI for a long time!

The F1 industry has produced many innovative products making it into real-world cars such as traction control and energy recovery braking systems. The regulations change frequently requiring the cars to be completely redesigned.

Looking at some key data facts:

• Cars capable of reaching speeds over 370 km/h with a combination of speed, acceleration and cornering ability which is unmatched.
• 10 teams with one common aim – to win or improve their position in the competition.
• 20 cars - with each generating just over 1 Terabyte (TB) of data per race weekend.
• 24 race weekends (2024) on different race tracks across the world – consistency is key to winning.
• ~50 TB of data is generated every year per team (2 cars per team).
• Features cutting-edge aerodynamics, hybrid power units, and materials science.
• Teams make joint decisions on where to share technology and systems between teams to minimise costs that are not core to their mission.
• Low-latency near real-time analysis and post-processing are delivered at speed.
• Data is used for predictive analytical simulations (AI).
• Every aspect of the team's work is driven by data - human and machine.
• Drivers and teams recognise the limits of the simulations requiring real-world feedback.
• Teamwork is global, challenging and at times it requires 24x7 to deliver results at pace under time-sensitive high-pressure conditions.
• People, Processes, Technology and innovative continuous improvements are key to success.
• Regulatory detailed supervision and frequent regulatory changes are enforced.
• Testing, Budgets and Designs are actively enforced, inspected and validated by the regulators.
• The products are redesigned frequently – testing the ability of their greatest minds.
• They employ some of the highest-skilled individuals and geniuses in the world.

Every individual within the team understands the role and importance of data to drive results.

To support this, I will look further at the information the Mercedes-AMG F1 team provides to examine exactly how this all works.

Firstly there is a clear business mission:

Win every F1 world championship and achieve zero race weekend failures.        

They may not succeed each time or every year, but they are 100% committed to this mission!

The strategy, plan and vision are supported and driven by data (human and machine).

"You need the right balance between data and gut feeling." Toto Wolff, Team Principle & CEO of Mercedes-AMG F1.

"In the world of F1, speed is everything. Currency is time. Money matters, but time is the real metric." - Matt Harris, Head of IT, Mercedes-AMG F1 (quote from 2020).

"I don't drive by the seat of my pants and happen to win races. I work very hard to interpret the data and drive a certain way. My engineers have confidence in me, and more often than not, when I tell them what I need or what I am feeling with the car, it's right." - Sir Lewis Hamilton (7 times World F1 champion driver).

I encourage you to look behind the scenes to see how this unique world utilises data to get results to inspire you on your data-driven journey:

• Data from an F1 Car - Mercedes-AMG F1 YouTube (11 mins)
• How does the F1 simulation work - Mercedes-AMG F1 Website (~8 min read)
• Behind the Scenes F1 Simulator - Mercedes-AMG F1 YouTube (6 mins)
• Why Sir Lewis Hamilton (7 times world champion) hates the simulator and how Max Verstappen (multiple world champion) uses it - Driver61 YouTube channel (8 mins with adverts)
• Driver61 offers simulator training courses with real and AI coaches (https://driver61.com/sim-racing/) - It's worth looking at what is being done with data in the simulation world.
• How do F1 teams design, produce and race an upgrade? - Mercedes-AMG F1 YouTube (8 mins)
• Visually driven data science and analytics - in Formula 1 and beyond (2002) - Colin Gray, Senior Lead Data Scientist, TIBCO YouTube (1 hour)
• History & Science Behind an F1 Car - GP Culture (1 hour) for car enthusiasts (with adverts)

Inspiration for your industry can often be found by looking outside your natural sphere to make you masters of data-driven excellence.

#DataDriven #DataScience #MercedesAMGF1 #F1innovation #TechInMotorsport #performanceanalytics #F1Tech #formula1