Giving F1 a tech edge

Netflix hit series Drive to Survive brought the thrill of Formula 1 to new audiences. Behind the scenes, technology and real-time analytics are racing at breakneck speed to give teams a competitive edge.

Mercedes AMG Petronas is one of the most successful teams in the history of Formula 1. A difficult season in 2022 has however led to questions about the team. Can technology be the solution?

In this episode of The Next Stage Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team, and Oliver Steil, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO at TeamViewer, explain how talent and tech work together to make champions on the tarmac.

“The season has been difficult for us,” said Toto. “We won the championship eight times in a row, but that’s the past. I think you need to look at tomorrow.”

Toto believes that, after a difficult season, it is science and technology that can help Mercedes, rather than relying on the usual folk wisdoms associated with sport in general.

“We just got the physics wrong,” said Toto, adding that “There are no mystics in Formula One. We got the concept of the car not in the right place, and in Formula One it takes a long time to unwind things that you built into the car. In that respect, the season is a learning process.”

Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team, and Oliver Steil, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO at TeamViewer were in conversation with Rosanna Tennant, Commentator at F1 TV on Centre stage at Web Summit 2022.

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Main image of Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team, and Oliver Steil, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO at TeamViewer, and Rosanna Tennant, Commentator at F1 TV on Centre stage at Web Summit 2022: Ben McShane/Web Summit (CC BY 2.0)