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  • ISTANBUL, TURKEY - NOVEMBER 15: Esteban Ocon of France driving the (31) Renault Sport Formula One Team RS20 stops in the Pitlane during the F1 Grand Prix of Turkey at Intercity Istanbul Park on November 15, 2020 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images)

    F1 engine makers are testing sustainable fuel

    F1 aims to hit net zero carbon emissions within 10 years.

    Kris Holt
    12.17.2020
  • Codemasters

    F1 drivers will compete in a virtual grand prix series

    With their season on hold because of coronavirus fears, Formula 1 drivers will surely be desperate for a competitive outlet to keep them (and their fans) occupied. So, just like soccer players and NASCAR drivers, they're diving into a virtual version of their sport.

    Kris Holt
    03.20.2020
  • Steve Dent/Engadget

    Formula 1's underdogs struggle with the technical challenges of the sport

    As Renault approached the French Grand Prix, a lot was at stake. The race was on the team's home turf, at a make-or-break point in the season. Nobody was panicking. Yet. Despite having won twice in 2018 with Red Bull, new driver Daniel Ricciardo knew what he'd signed up for with Renault. The team was ready: It came in with both engine and chassis changes. But the Paul Ricard circuit at Castellet in France was not the best test for Renault, given the high speeds and the team's continuing aerodynamic issues. The changes to the chassis and motor didn't help, a fact confirmed in qualifying on Saturday. Ricciardo was on the fourth row in eighth place and Nico Hulkenberg in 13th -- not the results Renault was looking for.

    Steve Dent
    08.14.2019
  • HTC

    HTC Vive Pro McLaren Edition is made for Formula One fans

    When HTC and McLaren announced their multi-year partnership back in May, the two had already teased an upcoming limited edition Vive headset along with some special VR content. Well, the wait is finally over for hardcore Formula One fans. As announced at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, said hardware turns out to be based on the Vive Pro full kit (not to be confused with the cheaper starter kit), which makes sense given that the Vive Pro is the official VR device for McLaren's eSports competition, Shadow Project. The Vive Pro McLaren Limited Edition is accented with the racing team's signature orange around the headset's front cameras, as well as on the menu button and strap on the controllers (2018 version, to go with the bundled Base Station 2.0 units). Naturally, this package comes with its very own box artwork. The damage for all of this is $1,549, which is a tad more than the standard full kit's $1,199 holiday offer.

    Richard Lai
    11.23.2018
  • Infiniti

    Infiniti 'dual-hybrid' concept car gathers heat to boost performance

    Most hybrid cars are meant to save fuel and the planet. You can't say that about Infiniti's just-unveiled Project Black S concept, however -- here, it's all about speed. It's built on the design of the Q60 Red Sport 400, but contains a Formula 1-derived "dual hybrid" system that can recuperate electricity when the car is braking and accelerating. There's one motor generator unit that captures energy from the brakes. The real stars, though, are two motor generator units on the V6 engine that collect heat from the twin turbos, translating it into either reduced turbo lag (by spinning the turbines faster than they would on their own) or as much as 120kW of power for the drivetrain.

    Jon Fingas
    10.01.2018
  • Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili

    Twitter's new shows include Formula 1 and SportsCenter Live

    Twitter wasn't kidding when it promised a flurry of video. The social network has announced more than 30 video deals, including a slew of live shows. To begin with, Twitter has landed a Formula 1 deal: The @f1 account will stream a live post-race show (sorry, no live races) with both key interviews and panel discussions with luminaries like Nico Rosberg. The first of ten shows will premiere after the Spanish Grand Prix on May 13th, and you'll also find on-demand race highlight clips.

    Jon Fingas
    04.30.2018
  • William West/AFP/Getty Images

    Netflix will release a Formula 1 documentary series

    Netflix is continuing its streak of scoring major sports originals. The streaming service has unveiled plans for a 10-episode documentary of Formula 1's 10-episode season with Senna's James Gay-Rees as one of the executive producers. The series will have "exclusive" access to drivers, team leadership and the league's own management, giving you a peek at the drama beyond the track. It should premiere sometime in early 2019.

    Jon Fingas
    03.24.2018
  • Octane/Action Plus via Getty Images

    Fernando Alonso is the first F1 driver with an eSports team

    You've seen basketball and soccer (aka football) teams dive into eSports, and now it's the turn for individual Formula One drivers to get in on the action. McLaren Honda driver Fernando Alonso has launched an eSports team in partnership with Logitech, with Alonso serving as a team principal. The FA Racing G2 Logitech G team -- yes, it's a mouthful -- will compete in a slew of games across multiple platforms, and has already enlisted F1 eSports league finalist Cem Bolukbasi.

    Jon Fingas
    11.25.2017
  • Mercedes-Benz

    Mercedes teases hybrid supercar with Formula 1 tech

    You've seen hybrid supercars before, but likely nothing quite so exotic as this. Mercedes-Benz is teasing the debut of the Mercedes-AMG Project One, a hybrid "supersports showcar," at the Frankfurt International Motor Show beginning September 14th. While the preview image doesn't show much besides a GT-style body (complete with an air scoop on the roof), Mercedes makes much ado of the car's Formula 1 underpinnings -- both powerplants amount to race car technology adapted to "day-to-day" use.

    Jon Fingas
    09.02.2017
  • Roslan Rahman / AFP via Getty

    Formula E will pit drivers against gamers in virtual race

    The joys of motorsport are in watching the perfect fusion of mechanical engineering and human ingenuity, right? Apparently not, as Formula E's leaders have decided that the competition will now expand to include virtual races. In an interview with Reuters, Formula E chief Alejandro Agag says that the competition's first battle will take place at CES 2017 in Las Vegas. The event will put professional race drivers against pro gamers, duking it out on simulators with a track that won't be disclosed until the day. The action may be imagined, but the stakes are high, with the victorious driver in line to win a $1 million payoff.

    Daniel Cooper
    06.22.2016
  • Mark Thompson/Getty Images

    Sky gets exclusive Formula 1 TV rights from 2019

    The BBC's decision to abandon its Formula 1 coverage has paved the way for an exclusive TV deal with Sky. Starting in 2019, Sky Sports will be the only place where Brits can watch each championship race. If you're a motorsport fan, that means you'll need a subscription to watch every blistering lap and crash. As part of the new deal, however, Sky has promised to show the British Grand Prix and other race highlights on a free-to-access Sky Sports channel. It will likely operate in a similar manner to BT Sport Showcase, which BT uses for free-to-watch football fixtures.

    Nick Summers
    03.24.2016
  • Associate Press

    F1 champion Lewis Hamilton isn't afraid of self-driving cars

    Three-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton stopped by Mobile World Congress 2016, where he talked autonomous vehicles and what type of technologies make his job easier. Hamilton was joined on the panel by Paddy Lowe, Executive Director of the Mercedes AMG Petronas racing team, as well as Qualcomm President Derek Aberle. Naturally, given the current hype around self-driving cars, the event's moderator asked Hamilton to share his feelings on the topic.

    Edgar Alvarez
    02.24.2016
  • Peter J Fox/Getty Images

    Formula 1 coverage moves from BBC to Channel 4 next season

    As the latest Premier League auction has shown, obtaining live TV rights to prestigious sporting events is expensive. It's unsurprising, therefore, to hear that the BBC is cutting back on its coverage to meet its new savings targets, starting with Formula 1. The broadcaster currently shows 10 races each season, as well as highlights from the other nine aired by Sky. It's now prematurely ending its contract, however, and giving Channel 4 the opportunity to take over from next year. Channel 4 is getting a three-year deal -- the amount that was left on the BBC's contract -- and has promised zero advertising breaks like its predecessor during each live race.

    Nick Summers
    12.21.2015
  • Formula 1 driver joins video game racing team

    Gran Turismo, Forza Motorsport, Project Cars and other racing games offer a surprisingly realistic depiction of motorsport. It should come as no surprise then to hear that professional drivers are starting to use these virtual depictions as training tools. Max Verstappen, a Formula 1 driver that placed fourth in last weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, is joining the sim racers at Team Redline to hone his skills. The squad has been running for 15 years and competes using games such as iRacing, Assetto Corsa and rFactor 2. Verstappen isn't the first professional driver to make the leap to virtual racing though -- Richie Stanaway, Nick Catsburg and Kelvin van der Linde have all been snapped up by Team Redline too. It's effectively the reverse of GT Academy, a scheme run by Nissan and PlayStation which gives players the chance to compete in real-life motorsport.

    Nick Summers
    07.30.2015
  • Formula 1 aerodynamics will make grocery stores more efficient

    No, that's not a typo. It turns out Formula 1 racing technology, specifically aerodynamics, can help rid grocery stores of the so-called "cold aisle" issue. Using aerofoils that are designed to guide the direction of air flow around a race car, Williams F1's engineering department and UK start-up Aerofoil Engery aim to keep the cool temps inside the open refrigerators at the market. The aerofoils attach to each shelf, guiding the cold air so that not only is that section more comfy for shoppers, but energy use is reduced as well. In fact, Sainsbury's, the second largest grocery store chain in the UK, is already testing the tech. "This Formula 1 inspired innovation has already shown it can cut carbon produced by major refrigerators," said John Skelton, the retailer's head of refrigeration. The project is still in the testing phase, so if could be a while before its ready for widespread installation.

    Billy Steele
    04.24.2015
  • Formula 1 is testing a 'virtual safety car'

    Safety vehicles are sometimes as dangerous to racing drivers as actual competition -- Formula 1 driver Jules Bianchi recently crashed into a recovery tractor sent out for an earlier accident, for instance. They may be less of an unintentional threat if a virtual safety car (VSC) trial at the US Grand Prix pans out. Instead of using a lead car to slow things down during yellow flags, the system relies on dashboard displays that tell racers to stay under a given speed limit; they face penalties if they go over. The technology is only being used in practice sessions this weekend, but the FIA is working with teams to determine just when VSC is viable for honest-to-goodness races.

    Jon Fingas
    11.02.2014
  • An F1 racer burning rubber in infrared is trippy

    FLIR has just shown a dramatic spectrum of Formula 1 racing you may not have even realized you were missing: full infrared. The company filmed Red Bull's RB8 F1 car doing donuts at the Gamma Racing Day in Assen using its FLIR X6580sc and other infrared cameras. As shown in the video below, the drivers are literally surrounded by flames and heat coming off the tires, engine and exhaust. You can also see the still glowing tracks left by the tires, Back to the Future style, and the hot bits of rubber that flew off. The only thing missing is the smoke, which is a good thing -- as shown by a regular camera, it almost completely covers the car at one point.

    Steve Dent
    08.22.2014
  • Formula 1's on-board cameras may switch to HD next season

    As we enjoy our first F1 action in the US since 2007 we're glad that it's in HD this time, however it still falling short in one area -- in-car camera shots. Although the racing series belatedly made the jump to high definition broadcasts last year, protests from the teams over weight and space issues caused it to stick with standard-definition cameras for the on-board shots. Now that a couple of years have passed and presumably the technology has improved, that may be addressed next year, at the same time US broadcasts of the series move from Speed/Fox to NBC Sports. Formula One Supporters Association caught up to F1 journalist Christian Sylt who got a peek at future plans that include the possibility of HD in-car cameras, multi-channel formats offering different views of the track and an interactive 3D replay feature. We'll have to wait and see how much -- if any -- of that is actually implemented any time soon, but if you'd like to check out the technology in use today, Speed TV has a live stream from several of the cars currently racing around the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas.

    Richard Lawler
    11.18.2012
  • Visualized: the history of the Formula 1 car in 60 seconds (video)

    Formula 1 car technology has come a long way since it first hit the asphalt banks 62 years ago. It's been hard to convey the sheer amount of change in a succinct way, but Rufus Blacklock may have nailed it in exactly one minute. Abstract versions of the cars show us the progression from the bullet-shaped cars of the 1950's through to the low-slung, wing-laden beasts we know today. If the clip is a little too F1-fast, there's also an infographic that details exactly when certain technology changes came into play, starting with the first wings in 1968 through to modern (and at times controversial) introductions like KERS in 2009. Click past the break for the video, and check out the relevant source link for a quite literal big picture.

    Jon Fingas
    07.03.2012
  • Angry Birds Heikki: because F1 and fort-breaking games are like peanut butter and chocolate

    We've seen Angry Birds go into strange places both figurative and literal, but Formula 1 racing? That's a less natural mix than a peanut butter cup. As a way of backing race driver and fellow Finland native Heikki Kovalainen, Rovio has crafted Angry Birds Heikki, a free web game themed all around its namesake's escapades during the F1 race year. The gameplay changes are more cosmetic than functional, although that leaderboard matters a little more in spirit than it might otherwise. Perhaps the biggest draw is simply that your gameplay schedule is intrinsically linked to Heikki's: new sections only unlock as the real-world races get near, so you'll have an incentive to keep coming back until the Sao Paulo race determines the F1 championship on November 21st. Let's just hope that there aren't too many road hogs spoiling either Heikki's fun or our own. [Thanks, Rodrigo]

    Jon Fingas
    06.25.2012