IS IT THE CAR OR THE DRIVER?
Formula 1 still the world’s number one sport. Not so surprising. New technologies really are born here. It is the perfect environment to test new ideas and technological innovations. From engine to body parts and from aerodynamics to lightweight constructions with a lot of software and control engineering.
And if that is not enough for an engineer. They even tour the world. Racing on different tracks under different conditions means fine-tuning and a little bit more fine-tuning till the race car is perfect for the race and the driver. Speed, power, control, beautiful places, and die-hard business. What else?
Data is everything. While airplanes can fly by wire for a while now. F1 cars definitely can drive by wire. The amount of real time data gathered, processed and analyzed is incredible. Here are the numbers:
- 80000 parts
- 300 telemetry centers
- 100K parameters
- 1.5TB of data/weekend
- 200M simulations
Beautiful Monaco
One of the most celebrated and exciting street race tracks must be Monaco. The season is perfect. The weather in May is in full swing. It is one of the beautiful places you have to visit just to roam around and get a taste of the high society jet-set. It is remarkable how they turn the whole city upside down for this yearly magnificent event. And of course, no matter who will win the race you definitely can enjoy a party all over the place.
As I don’t really have a favorite racer I do feel proud that The Netherlands is being represented by Max Verstappen and doing a super great job. He already has a brilliant career but I am sure more promising things are heading his way. And also super proud of all the different countries participating in Formula 1. It is great to see how countries like India and Azerbaijan in their own way contribute to a world-leading sport.
Smart City Singapore
A street race at night in one of the smartest cities of the world is like getting lost in a happy way fed by all the impressions and mesmerizing luxury that a modern city has to offer. Go and visit Singapore and just for a moment enjoy being disconnected from the world we know and immerse yourself in imagination and opportunities of what is possible. It is an extraordinary experience.
Green Spa-Francorchamps
Circuit Spa-Francorchamps is a fast track with elevated parts in the greenery of the beautiful and peaceful Spa in Belgium. It is so close to home that for me it is a must-visit each year again.
Sandy Zandvoort
Imagine racing close to the beach close to the sea in the dunes of the small town of Zandvoort in the Netherlands. What can one expect? Well first of all it is in the lowlands of Europe where the dutch people are famous for their relentless support for their champions. When there is a mist of orange you bet that there are Dutch supporters.
Forward thinking with a rebellious mindset
When you enjoy the sport enough and are all excited about the technological advancements that push the boundaries of innovation and what is humanly possible, you start to think about the lessons to be learnded to benefit other industries. It is not only technology. It is teamwork, leadership, communication, a balance and integration of mind and body. It is project management at the highest level. It is discipline, resilience, persistence, adaptability and so much more. If you struggle to learn or to help your team or organization ahead sent them to a F1 race and let them reflect on what they could learn and apply from Formula 1 racing. It takes curiosity, creativity and courage to move beyond your comfort zone and do what nobody else is doing. That is Forward Thinking with a rebellious mindset.
Do I have a favorite driver? Not really. I just favor the one who races clean but has the courage and is willing to take the risk to make it a real battle on the track.
Check the official site for more information: formula1.com