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A new Formula 1 crowd-sourcing challenge aims to reward creativity, by inviting fans and creative thinkers to re-invent some areas of the sport.
The F1 Connectivity Innovation Prize is reaching out to innovators among the fan base, with two real world challenges from the sport.
Fans with an interest in technology have been invited to create an F1 predictor, and win $50,000 as well as a behind-the-scenes peek at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“The challenge is to design a prediction tool that F1 fans can use to predict the outcome of Grand Prix races,” said Mehul Kapadia, Managing Director (F1 Business), Tata Communications.
The prediction tool needs to let fans rank the race outcome of both drivers and teams, as well as allow the Formula One Management (FOM) to rank predictions and “reward fans that forecast the most accurate results”, Kapadia told BusinessLine .
Tata Communications is the official connectivity provider of Formula 1.
The F1 Connectivity Innovation Prize is a platform initiated by Tata Communications, along with the FOM, the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team, and Martin Brundle, F1 driver.
Kapadia said the objective is to engage young talent and Formula 1 fans against the backdrop of F1 racing by “crowd-sourcing innovative ideas to real world challenges that F1 faces. We put out two challenges in a year, where three winners are chosen for each challenge, followed by one grand prize winner for the season,” he added.
New technologyThe second challenge this year has been set by FOM. Fans need to be able to include how weather scenarios might pan out, ensure pit stop strategies, tyre choices, and race positions at various stages of a Grand Prix, among others.
The new initiative follows on the success of the first F1 Connectivity Innovation Prize, which aimed to harness brainpower and reward creative thinking around F1. Mercedes F1 team boss Paddy Lowe and 2015 Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton were among a panel of judges.
Tata Communications has teamed up with F1 for close to four years now. Kapadia said that last year at a practice session at the Singapore Grand Prix,Tata Communications delivered 4K-quality footage from the track to the FOM technical headquarters in Biggin Hill, London.
The success was in the proof of concept, “which showcases the not-too-distant future of sport broadcasting. Every year we do a proof of concept, and use F1 as a platform. Last year, we did 4K footage; the year before we did Jpeg2k feed,” said Kapadia.
Though 4K broadcasting promises ground-breaking definition, it also presents the challenge of significantly increased bandwidth demand.
For the technology major though, 4K has great potential when it comes to sports broadcasting.
“As the ecosystem evolves, and as people have more 4K devices and screens, with global broadcasters having more 4K-enabled technology, we can move in,” added Kapadia.
The writer was in Singapore at the invitation of Tata Communications.
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