F1: New TV Graphics to be Introduced Throughout 2020

AWS (Amazon Web Services) which have provided the TV graphics for F1 since the start of the 2018 season, will roll out 6 new graphics in stages during 2020.

The first of these graphics, set to be introduced for the season opening Austrian Grand Prix, will be a ‘Car Performance Score’ graphic.

Each car will be rated in 4 categories – low speed cornering, high speed cornering, straight line and car handling. This encompasses different car’s various strengths and weaknesses, such as power, downforce, drag and mechanical grip.

From the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, the 5th round of the season, an ‘Ultimate Driver Speed Comparison’ will be introduced to allow fans to compare current F1 drivers to past drivers, dating back to 1983.

A ‘High Speed/Low Speed Corner Performance’ graphic will roll out at the Belgian Grand Prix to see how drivers tackle the fastest corners (109+mph) and the slowest corners (78mph and below) on a certain circuit.

Then in the second half of the season, which has yet to been announced, will see the introduction of ‘Driver Skill Ratings’, ‘Car/Team Development and Overall Season Performance’ graphics and ‘Qualifying and Race Pace Predictions’.

The ‘Driver Skill Ratings’ will break down and score each drivers’ skillsets to rank each driver at a circuit. This will include factors such as qualifying performance, starts, race pace, tyre management and overtaking/defending styles.

The ‘Car/Team Development and Overall Season Performance’ graphics will allow fans to see how teams have developed throughout the season based off their performance race-to-race.

The ‘Qualifying and Race Pace Predictions’ is relatively self-explanatory – it will gather data from the practice sessions to give a prediction as to who will be on pole and who will have the best pace to win the race.

So far since 2018, another 6 graphics have been introduced, including Exit Speed, Predicted Pit Stop Strategy, Pit Window, Battle Forecast, Pit Strategy Battle, and Tyre Performance.

Formula 1’s Director of Data Systems Rob Smedley said about the new graphics, “Over the past two years, Formula 1 has embraced AWS’s services to perform intense and dynamic data analysis. The F1 Insights we’re delivering together are bringing fans closer to the track than ever before, and unlocking previously untold stories and insights from behind the pit wall.

“We’re excited to be expanding this successful relationship to bring even more insights to life, allowing fans to go deeper into the many ways that drivers and racing teams work together to affect success.”

The reaction from the fans however has been less than positive. A lot of people think that there are already too many graphics in modern F1, and adding these new ones takes away any unpredictability and therefore tension, and is a distraction to the on track action that may be happening.

F1 will return on July 3rd/5th for the 2020 Rolex Grosser Preis von Österreich, at the Red Bull Ring.

Car Performance Comparison Graphic

Car Performance Overview Graphic

Car Performance Top 5 Graphic

Car Performance Detail Graphic