Welcome to Thursday\u2019s edition of the RaceFans round-up.<\/p>\n
Artificial intelligence plays too great a role in how current Formula 1 power units operate, says @MazdaChris:<\/p>\n I\u2019m not really a fan of AI. I absolutely hate it in the context of creative industries. But even as someone who has worked in data for over a decade, I really dislike how it is being pushed into every area of technology on the promise that it will deliver positive results that couldn\u2019t be achieved in other ways. It just isn\u2019t mature, doesn\u2019t work reliably, and in my opinion should not be used unless there is a really clear reason for it. I think it\u2019s telling that Toto Wolff refers to it simply as a \u2018software\u2019 issue. The commercial success of this technology relies on people adopting it at a massive scale, following years of almost unfathomable investment.<\/p>\n Tech companies have gone all-in and bet the farm on this achieving massive commercial returns to justify the amount they\u2019ve already spent on it. F1 teams all have major technical partnerships with companies who are invested in AI, so I can see why Toto and others are extremely reluctant to cast this tech in a bad light. But I feel like it has no business being used to control elements of an F1 car, where not only does it make it harder to understand why one driver is fast and another is not, but introduces unpredictable, random elements to the racing that is completely beyond the control or understanding of the driver.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve never been one to just dismiss technology and progress. I think F1 should be generally at the cutting edge. But in this case, not only do I think the philosophy of these power units is poorly-conceived and badly implemented, but specifically using AI in this context should be completely kicked out, no matter what the commercial partners may want. Social media and links<\/p>\n Vettel says rule changes risk \u2018diluting the DNA\u2019 of F1 (Financial Times)<\/a><\/p>\n ‘Vettel is sceptical that the battery technology might transfer to road cars in a meaningful way. He says hybrid and pure electric road cars have different requirements from racing cars. ‘(On the road) you try to see if there\u2019s a red light coming, come off throttle, slowly try to charge the battery by slowing down, braking a little bit, stopping, then eventually going again. In racing, it\u2019s very different. Will it find a way into your Toyota Yaris? No, it will not.”<\/p>\n Alpine building foundations for F1 success, says Renault boss (Reuters)<\/a><\/p>\n ‘When the team is completely lost, when you are nowhere, first you have to set very short-term priorities and refocus the team on delivering very concrete things. This is what I call the one-year plan. It is \u200cdoing \u2060well on the performance side and it is doing well on the sponsorship side, so I’m reasonably satisfied but humble. I know that the journey will be a long way.’<\/p>\n Unlicensed casinos could face ban on sponsoring UK sports teams from 2027 (The Guardian)<\/a><\/p>\n ‘Proposal to protect vulnerable and stop money laundering could affect Premier League clubs and Formula 1.’<\/p>\n To the Hungaroring before the summer break (Ferrari)<\/a><\/p>\n Frederic Vasseur: ‘On paper, the Hungaroring could suit the characteristics of our car a little better, but that alone is no guarantee.’<\/p>\n Silverstone aiming to be ‘next biggest’ race after Le Mans (Sportscar 365)<\/a><\/p>\n ‘Our challenge is to explain to people who have become fans of Formula 1 that actually this is every bit as good, and unpack it for them and explain how this is an incredible game of chess which plays out over six hours, and tactically it\u2019s every bit as enthralling.’<\/p>\n RaceFans always endeavours to credit original sources. Want to share a relevant motorsport link with us? Send it in via the contact form<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nComment of the day<\/p>\n
@MazdaChris<\/p>\n