Welcome to Thursday’s edition of the RaceFans round-up.
Artificial intelligence plays too great a role in how current Formula 1 power units operate, says @MazdaChris:
I’m 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’t be achieved in other ways. It just isn’t mature, doesn’t work reliably, and in my opinion should not be used unless there is a really clear reason for it. I think it’s telling that Toto Wolff refers to it simply as a ‘software’ issue. The commercial success of this technology relies on people adopting it at a massive scale, following years of almost unfathomable investment.
Tech companies have gone all-in and bet the farm on this achieving massive commercial returns to justify the amount they’ve 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.
I’ve 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.
@MazdaChris
Social media and links
Vettel says rule changes risk ‘diluting the DNA’ of F1 (Financial Times)
‘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’s 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’s very different. Will it find a way into your Toyota Yaris? No, it will not.”
Alpine building foundations for F1 success, says Renault boss (Reuters)
‘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 doing well 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.’
Unlicensed casinos could face ban on sponsoring UK sports teams from 2027 (The Guardian)
‘Proposal to protect vulnerable and stop money laundering could affect Premier League clubs and Formula 1.’
To the Hungaroring before the summer break (Ferrari)
Frederic Vasseur: ‘On paper, the Hungaroring could suit the characteristics of our car a little better, but that alone is no guarantee.’
Silverstone aiming to be ‘next biggest’ race after Le Mans (Sportscar 365)
‘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’s every bit as enthralling.’
RaceFans always endeavours to credit original sources. Want to share a relevant motorsport link with us? Send it in via the contact form.