Confluent has entered a multi-year partnership with the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula 1 Team to provide real-time data streaming technology for decision-making and engineering.

Data-driven racing

The partnership will see Confluent’s logo featured on the VCARB 02 race car, including on the halo and upper sidepods, with the technology company’s data streaming platform intended to support the high-paced demands of motorsport. By integrating Confluent’s platform, the Formula 1 team aims to improve race-day strategy, accelerate engineering development and enhance operations.

Formula 1 teams rely heavily on data, producing in excess of one million data points every second during a race. These cover a wide range of parameters, including tyre performance, aerodynamic pressures, handling dynamics, and driver metrics. The partnership is designed to connect these data streams seamlessly between car, pit wall, and engineering teams at the factory, supporting both immediate race decisions and longer-term research and development.

Strategic focus

Data plays a critical role throughout all stages of a Formula 1 season, from live race telemetry to iterative car design. Through the implementation of Confluent’s technology, VCARB can transmit, process and analyse real-time telemetry data, offering what is described as a ‘central nervous system’ for team operations.

“In Formula 1, winning isn’t just about the car; it’s about the data flowing through every part of the team,” said Jay Kreps, CEO and co-founder of Confluent. “This partnership with VCARB shows what’s possible when real-time data streaming becomes as central to racing as the engine itself. Every lap generates insights that fuel human decision-making today and train the AI and machine learning models that will shape tomorrow’s cars and race strategies. We’re thrilled to be innovating at that speed together.”

By harnessing real-time data, VCARB aims to improve both immediate performance on race weekends and the development of their next-generation vehicles. The team uses extensive data analysis for everything from mid-race adjustments to off-season car refinement, underscoring the increasing importance of data infrastructure in sports.

Competitive edge

According to the team, the speed at which data is analysed and acted upon can have a direct impact on competitiveness, helping to close the gap to the front-runners on the grid through informed engineering decisions and tactical calls. With race weekends condensed and split-second decision-making at a premium, data infrastructure must be reliable and responsive.

“Every lap teaches us something new, and the faster we can learn, the better we get,” said Tim Goss, Chief Technical Officer of VCARB. “With Confluent, data becomes a competitive edge that not only helps us make smarter decisions during a race but also guides post-race analysis and even car design. Together, these insights help us close the gap to the front of the grid.”

VCARB’s approach highlights how Formula 1 is serving as a testing ground for advanced data streaming and analytics. The partnership is expected to support the team’s on-track efforts and drive improvements in engineering development speed, supply chain management, and fan engagement.

Broader implications

The collaboration also reflects a wider trend of mutual engagement between motorsport and technology sectors. While the immediate impact will be measured on the racetrack and in engineering timelines, the lessons learned may inform practices elsewhere in data-reliant industries.

The team, previously known by different names before its current VCARB identity, has a long-standing reputation in Formula 1 and continues to evolve with changes in competition and technology. This partnership is an example of teams looking to gain fractional advantages through operational improvements powered by data.