Formula 1 is undoubtedly fast. Multimillion-dollar revenues from motorsports cars reach speeds of over 210 mph on tracks that bend and twist wildly. Even the pit crews work at incredible speed; A complete tire change on all four corners must be completed within two seconds. For the Oracle Red Bull team, data is transferred from champion Max Verstappen's car to the operations center even faster. Exponentially so.
Every millisecond matters, and the data supports small improvements with each implementation. Around 800 sensors are integrated into the car and the data is transmitted to Red Bull's Oracle team via fiber optic cables installed by AT&T back to the racing team's operations center in Milton Keynes, UK. This lightning-fast transfer of information is invisible to fans, but it is undoubtedly important for operations.
“There’s a lot of analysis going on during a race, it’s constant,” Verstappen said. Popular Science. “Of course, the more information there is in the pit lane and at the rear of Milton Keynes, the more they can help me throughout the race.”
We're talking about huge numbers flying around the web, amounting to about 4 billion equations during a race weekend. Statistics are king, and Red Bull's Oracle team relies on reliable communication to predict what will work best. That includes the Formula 1 race in Las Vegas this weekend.
Bet on the Monte Carlo simulation process
Morgan Maya, senior manager of technical partnerships at Oracle Red Bull Racing, says there are 120 to 130 people working on data processing and analysis every weekend. “It’s important to transfer data in real time between the track and the plant so that the team has the right information at the right time and in the right place,” he says.
The team uses something called Monte Carlo simulation, which uses these billions of equations to create models that predict success while making small, incremental changes to influence a better outcome. Data is quickly fed into the system and it calculates scenarios, providing information on tire wear rates, fuel consumption and more. The team has multiple chassis, rear aero wings and other interchangeable parts so they can use their options as conditions change.
Even before entering the track, the technical team will run two billion equations. The other half of the four billion equations are used to develop racing strategy. It all happens in the background as Verstappen gets dressed for practice and then on the starting line.
“The faster you can analyze all the data you get, the faster you can come up with solutions or improvements to the car,” says Verstappen. “There are a lot of people in the factory who help behind the scenes.”
AT&T has worked side by side with Oracle Red Bull since 2011. One of the indicators of its growth is the number sensors by car has grown from 250 to 800 over the years. By the way, the gauges on the Oracle Red Bull F1 car are not stuck on like Post-It notes. Each of them is integrated into the vehicle design and built in from the very beginning. Engineers Make sure every tiny data sensor is part of the chassis, tires, electronics and other elements. Information about the brakes, cooling system and aerodynamics is fed into the simulation to see where adjustments are needed. Verstappen also receives information about his driving and what competitors are doing as needed.
“If everything is going really well, they don't say much because it means I'm doing a good job,” Verstappen says. “Of course, some races are generally more complex, and the more data you can get, the better. It varies a lot, from braking points to driving lines to the decisions we need to make about tires.”
Looking forward to 2026 and using data effectively
Formula One has introduced a $140 million spending cap for 2025 in a move designed to level the playing field for racing teams across the board. That $140 million includes vehicle parts, some employee salaries, travel expenses and development. As a result, the cost of data needs to be controlled, and partnerships with Oracle and AT&T save the team money by sending data through the cloud instead of purchasing a full farm of servers.
Formula 1 will see big changes in 2026, including a new chassis design and a redesigned hybrid powertrain. Green fuel will become mandatoryand closer (read: tighter, more thrilling) racing will require movable front and rear wings with active aerodynamics. The Oracle Red Bull team is prepared to meet future challenges by leveraging everything they've learned from working at AT&T and beyond.
Verstappen says he has a lot of confidence in his data team and engineers. While he understands what data is being read, he knows that a huge number of people are working to optimize the vehicle's performance and performance.
“I look at the data, but at the same time we have a lot of smart engineers at Red Bull who check every part of the car to optimize every part,” he says. “Basically, it's never good enough and you want to do better. You're constantly working on it.”
Despite his appreciation for the vast amounts of data, the four-time Formula One champion says the human driver is still the X-factor that makes racing fun. He admits that there is some self-promotion in this statement, but he is not wrong. Even highly skilled drivers can be unpredictable and inconsistent, and that's part of the thrill.
“The driver is still a very important factor,” says Verstappen. “At the end of the day, I think the driver is still the most important sensor in the car.”
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