The FIA Signs AWS as Its Official AI Partner and Will Use Its AI Tools in Writing Future F1 Technical Rules
Motor sport's governing body, the FIA, said on October 28 that Amazon Web Services will become its Official AI and Cloud Computing Partner. The FIA already runs the aerodynamic simulations behind future single-seater regulations on AWS high-performance computing, and AWS will now give its technical and engineering teams AI tools for developing regulations. The deal also extends a digital licensing platform for drivers and officials. AWS has separately been a technology partner of Formula 1's commercial side since 2018. No financial terms were given.
This partnership puts AI tooling with the referee rather than the teams. The FIA, which writes and enforces motor sport's rules, says AWS will provide its technical and engineering teams with AI tools to strengthen its ability to develop regulations on safety, performance and sustainability. AWS's existing presence in the sport is on the commercial side: it has been a partner of Formula 1's management since 2018, processing telemetry for broadcast strategy predictions, according to Motorsport.com.
What the deal covers#
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile and Amazon Web Services announced a global partnership on Wednesday under which AWS becomes the FIA's Official AI and Cloud Computing Partner. The FIA says it already runs its aerodynamic simulations on AWS's high-performance computing technology, testing airflow around a car virtually without building physical parts, and that AWS will play a key role in shaping the technical regulations for the next generation of Formula 1 cars.
The partnership builds on a digital licensing platform that AWS and the FIA launched last year for drivers, officials and volunteers, which the FIA says is now expanding to more national sporting authorities with multilingual support and licence renewals. Motorsport.com reports that the platform was first trialled in Canada and Sri Lanka. More FIA business applications and hosted services will move to AWS over the coming years, the federation says. AWS also becomes an official partner of the FIA Awards and the FIA Sustainable Innovation Series.
"By bringing world-class cloud and AI technology into the heart of the FIA, we can make it simpler for drivers, officials and volunteers to take part, help our Member Clubs work more efficiently, and move closer to our ambition of doubling global motor sport participation," said FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Kristin Shaff, AWS's global director of events, sports and entertainment, called motor sport "one of the most demanding and data-rich environments in the world."
Limits#
- Neither the FIA nor AWS gave financial terms or the length of the partnership.
- The announcement does not say which AI tools the FIA's regulation teams will use or how their output will feed into rule-making.
- Motorsport.com's report follows the FIA announcement closely; the Canada and Sri Lanka detail is the main addition.