New graphic overlays in F1: overdose soon?

Algorithms are everywhere and Formula 1 escapes their predictive and omniscient eye. 

Last year, several graphics were added to the international sports broadcast bundle. They made it possible in particular to know the state of wear of the tires (“Tyre Performance” in English), or the probability of success of an overtaking on the track (“Battle Forecast”) or in the pits (“Predicted Pit Stop Strategy”). "). 

The origin of the numbers projected on the screen was nebulous to say the least. Pirelli had thus confided that it was not aware of the data used to indicate the percentage of wear of its rubbers. 

Never mind, the FOM and the company Amazon Web Services (AWS), specializing in cloud computing services, have planned to go even further with new visuals intended to note the performance of the car (“Car Performance Scores”) and drivers in real time. 

To establish the first scale, AWS will rely on the characteristics of the car in terms of downforce, power, drag, and grip. The car will then be rated in slow turns, fast curves, turns negotiated at medium speed, and straight lines. Handling will also be assessed via a gauge which will oscillate between -10 (pronounced understeer) and +10 (marked oversteer). 

All this data is calculated using millions of data points collected in real time on each car via nearly 300 sensors: speed, position on the circuit, yaw rate of the car, track status, steering wheel angle, age from the captain (just kidding). 

This information is then compared to statistics from previous years and put through the mill of the algorithms that now govern almost everything in our lives to produce notes intended to enlighten the viewer. 

• Orgy of statistics

If you're not yet full, don't worry! No less than 5 other new features are planned this season. Here are the details:

• “Ultimate Driver Speed ​​Comparison” will allow fans to compare the 2020 starters to their glorious elders, with data going back to the 1983 season, to “ determine who is the fastest in history », Says the sales brochure. A whole program, available from the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, the second race at Silverstone (August 7-9).
• “High-Speed/Low-Speed ​​Corner Performance” will debut at the Belgian Grand Prix (August 28-30). The visual will show how the drivers perform in fast curves (over 175 km/h) and slow turns (- 125 km/h). We therefore wish them good luck in explaining a poor performance to their boss and the media…  
• “Driver Skills Rating”: Riders will be scored to determine who is the best driver on track, based on the following factors: qualifying performance, number of career starts, pace, ability to manage tires, overtaking or defending style, etc.
• “Car/Team Development & Overall Season Performance”: Fans will be able to visualize how quickly different teams develop over the course of a season, based on how their competitiveness changes from one round to the next. 
• “Qualifying and Race Pace Predictions”: By analyzing the pace in free practice and during qualifying, this graphic overlay aims to identify the favorites for a weekend. 

The last 3 features should see the light of day in the second half of the season. 

« F1 Insights will put fans even more at the heart of the action and tell new stories using data collected from the pit wall ", commented Rob Smedley, F1 chief engineer and former track engineer to Felipe Massa at Ferrari et Williams including. 

We don't know what to think of this new orgy of statistics which is about to burst onto our screens. Doesn't it risk spoiling the simple pleasure of watching a Formula 1 race without knowing that Machin has an 89% chance of overtaking Bidule because a wind of 34,6 km/h is blowing in the turn 4 and that Machin's car has a score of 7,2/10 in the semi-slow left and banked curves, and that Bidule is only credited with a 6,4/10 because he lifted my left foot this morning. 

We caricature of course, but in wanting to kill the glorious uncertainty of sport, don't we lose a good part of what makes it so charming?