How AI is Rewriting Race Strategy in Formula 1
Formula 1 today looks nothing like the sport it was compared to twenty years ago, especially when it comes to how teams make crucial race decisions. Back then, strategists depended almost entirely on intuition, handwritten notes, and whatever limited telemetry was available. Today, the entire grid uses AI-driven systems capable of simulating millions of possible race scenarios in real time, transforming how races play out. Where teams once guessed when to pit, AI now predicts the optimal lap with near-perfect precision. Drivers like Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and Fernando Alonso now race with constant input from these algorithms, which analyse tyre wear, weather patterns, and track evolution.
In past races from the 1990s and early 2000s, an unexpected safety car or sudden downpour could throw an entire race into chaos. Today, AI systems analyse these variables in real time, running thousands of micro-simulations per lap to adjust strategies within seconds. For example, factors like track temperature can drastically influence tyre grip and wear, which in turn affects when and how teams choose to pit. Teams like Red Bull and Mercedes have openly acknowledged using advanced predictive models that update constantly as new information comes in. For example, several races over the last two seasons, teams have successfully predicted undercut opportunities well before rival teams did. Such foresight would have been nearly impossible during Michael Schumacher’s era, when race strategy relied on intuition and experience rather than computational analysis. By comparing a race from the early 2000s with one from 2024 or 2025, it’s clear how modern races depend on data-driven timing rather than gut instincts.
Drivers have also had to adapt their mindset. A driver might sense their tyres starting to degrade, but the AI model might say they have three more laps left, creating a constant tension between instinct and data. Teams like McLaren and Ferrari now use machine-learning systems that monitor driver inputs to identify micro-efficiencies in braking, throttle, and corner entry. These systems function as digital coaches, heightening driver performance beyond what traditional engineering could provide. This means the drivers have to trust the data, even when it conflicts with what their instincts tell them.
Looking ahead, AI’s influence on race strategy is expected to grow as teams collect more detailed telemetry and refine their models. With major regulation changes coming in 2026, teams are preparing strategies based on simulations rather than historical data. These systems are expected to make adjustments in real time during the race rather than before it, creating more strategy adjustments. Some experts believe that future races will be won less by reacting to events and more by predicting them before they happen. AI eventually might even allow teams to predict safety cars, tyre failures, or even pit-lane traffic. While this level of technology might sound like science fiction, the current pace of advancement suggests it is closer than many fans realise. Despite all this innovation, Formula 1 remains a human sport at its core, driven by the instinct, courage, and split-second decisions that no machine can ever replace.
