A peek into Formula One's behind the scenes

The communication section is a climate-controlled data centre

Formula One drivers live life as superstars. They are adored, followed and glorified in unequal measure. While the racers hog the limelight for heroics on the tracks, they, in reality are plying their trade on instructions from engineers in the pit lanes. If the line of communication is snapped, the driver finds himself groping in the dark. Sans instructions, all race strategy falls flat and drivers' vision for his race is literally blurred in broad daylight.
So how does all this work? Who all ensure a smooth communication channel between the pit lane and the driver? Khaleej Times finds the answers to this and more with an exclusive entry through the doors of the secretly-guarded F1 Communications hut. Unfortunately not much can be written or photos published as per a confidentiality agreement but read on for an overview.
Stationed outside the main gate, the communication section is a climate-controlled data centre. F1 Communications' official described as to how the entire machinery of electronic systems, fibre-optic cable to even air coolers is shipped in. Yes, the team doesn't depend on circuit for pretty much anything apart from food and washrooms.
One step inside the centre and you know data is the king here, well it rules and runs this sport. It's actually some 100-odd dedicated F1 Communications members who toil behind the scenes to ensure a cool running of the gala show. There are engineers, technicians and video staff stationed in different cabins with a sole task to crunch the numbers and enrich television experience for fans. They transfer raw data collected through the many sensors positioned along the tracks to the pit lanes. It is based on these inputs that team principals give all instructions to their drivers. The data is also used by commentators and journalists to make expert remarks. And once the show is finished, the entire data centre is folded up in matter of minutes with members silently moving to the next destination.
While all the communication show is controlled by Formula One, their data channel is run by Tata Communications - the official connectivity provider. The partnership is six-year-old now.
Amit Sharma, associate vice-president, marketing and market development, F1 business at Tata Communications said the company enables the sport to seamlessly reach its millions of fans across the world. Formula 1 is broadcast in more than 240 countries and territories.
Digest this: Tata Communications has 710,000km of terrestrial and sub-sea fibre, which is more than 17 times around the world's equator. Data will travel from the company's cable node in Abu Dhabi, riding its long-haul network via the UAE, passing Saudi Arabia and Egypt. From here, they're picked up through the Middle East route onto the Suez and into the Mediterranean, finally landing at Marseille where land cable systems across mainland France take over and finally crossing the English Channel to London.
And once data is at the remote operations centre, F1 technical headquarters in Biggin Hill, London, a team of producers receive streams of trackside data and live video to produce components of the International Live Feed distributed to broadcasters, control and perform functions for the Formula1.com platform, and even operate specialised cameras like robotic camera heads at the Yas Marina Circuit.
Data is transmitted in the blink of an eye, approximately 130 milliseconds, through 12,000km of fibre route across two continents.
Tata Communications also ensure that Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 engineers get all the crucial data to analyse cars and chart ways for their drivers on the track.
Tata Communications is also the official online hosting and content delivery network (CDN) provider of F1.com. Their CDNs enable seamless experiences to more than 50 million unique users each year with over 3.7 million hours of video distributed online.
During peaks on race weekend, F1.com gets up to 5 million simultaneous hits without a glitch, keeping fans connected with a seamless experience of the latest content and data from the race track.
About 300 hours of effort go into ensuring a smooth setup just two weeks before Thursday of each race week. It takes just three days to install, test and de-rig the network at Yas Marina Circuit. And it will take only four hours to dismantle it from the start of the race on Sunday night and silently continue their journey.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com