AWS re:Invent 2025 - Formula 1 Extends Fandom with AI, Data, and AWS Media Services (IND3326)

AWS re:Invent 2025 - Formula 1 Extends Fandom with AI, Data, and AWS Media Services

Overview

• Formula 1 is a global sport with a cumulative audience of 1.6 billion people and over 825 million fans worldwide
• AWS has partnered with Formula 1 since 2018, focusing on transforming data into racing intelligence, enhancing the fan experience, and technical transformation
• Key projects include the CFD project to design the 2021 car, F1 Insight powered by AWS, the Fan 360 program, and the launch of F1 TV Premium

Data Capture and Processing

• Each F1 car generates over 1 million data points per second, with over 5 million data points processed across all cars during a race weekend
• Data is captured via induction loops around the circuit and radio towers receiving live telemetry and onboard video
• This data is sent to the Event Technical Center and the Media and Technology Center, which are connected to AWS via high-speed fiber optic links
• AWS processes the data using machine learning models in Amazon SageMaker to generate insights and predictions for the F1 broadcast

Root Cause Analysis

• Formula 1 faced challenges in quickly identifying and resolving issues with their mission-critical applications
• They implemented a multi-agent orchestration system using AWS Bedrock, Amazon CloudWatch, and other services to automate root cause analysis
• This system can programmatically analyze log files, identify issues, and generate support tickets, reducing resolution time from 45 minutes to just 4 minutes

F1 TV Premium

• F1 TV Premium is a new multi-screen over-the-top platform launched in 2025, offering a compelling multi-angle viewing experience for fans
• Key features include:
  • UHD HDR video quality, up from previous HD SDR
  • Synchronized playback of the international feed, onboard cameras, and driver trackers
  • Ability to switch between multiple video feeds while maintaining synchronization
  • Support for audio commentary, subtitles, and other supplementary content
• The technical implementation leverages AWS Elemental Media Services for channel synchronization, HEVC tiled encoding, and multi-region failover capabilities

Technical Architecture

• AWS Elemental Media Connect transports the live video feeds securely
• AWS Elemental Media Live performs the cloud-based video processing, with epoch clocking and time code alignment to ensure synchronization
• AWS Elemental Media Package handles the just-in-time packaging and origination, with quality-based origin selection for failover
• Amazon CloudFront distributes the content to viewers

Business Impact

• The multi-screen, synchronized viewing experience of F1 TV Premium has been well-received by fans, allowing them to immerse themselves in the racing action like never before
• The automated root cause analysis system has significantly improved the discovery and resolution of issues, reducing ticket resolution time by 95%
• The partnership between AWS and Formula 1 has transformed the way fans experience the sport, leveraging data, AI, and advanced media services

Looking Ahead

• Formula 1 and AWS continue to innovate, with plans to add more onboard cameras and other new features to the F1 TV Premium platform
• The 2026 season will bring significant changes to the cars and regulations, presenting new opportunities for storytelling and fan engagement through the digital platforms