Formula 1 Redesigns Car for Closer Racing and More Exciting Fan Experience by Using AWS HPC Solutions
Project Achtergrond
The name Formula 1 (F1) is synonymous with speed. F1 has the fastest regulated racing cars in the world, which race in the annual international FIA Formula One World Championship. Recently, F1 needed to redesign its cars to reduce the impact of the turbulent wake that limits the speed and acceleration of following cars. “Ultimately, we wanted to reduce the wake so spectators can see more overtakes and closer wheel-to-wheel action,” says Pat Symonds, chief technical officer for Formula 1.
Probleemstelling van het project
To redesign its cars, F1 needed to move away from its on-premises computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology environment, which it uses along with wind tunnel testing to design and test the aerodynamic properties of cars. “We wanted more fidelity in terms of simulation detail for designing our cars,” Symonds says. “Also, we needed more scalability and we wanted to reduce our simulation cycle, so we could perform more complex CFD simulations while decreasing overall execution time.”
Technologische innovaties
Cloud
Doelstelling van het project
By running its CFD platform on AWS, F1 has designed a car that reduces downforce loss in wheel-to-wheel racing from 50 percent to 15 percent, so a car is much less impacted by the wake of the car in front of it. As a result, F1 can better support its strategic priorities of increasing competitiveness and unpredictability on the track, as well as producing a world-class spectacle for fans. “Now, cars can drive closer to each other and overtake more easily,” Symonds says. “The experience for fans will prove to be much more exciting.”
Technology Providers
AWS