Formula E Teams With Google Cloud on AI Driver Technology
The world of motorsport has long been divided between resource-rich teams and those without access to advanced analytics. This gap has limited opportunities for many drivers, particularly women and those from diverse backgrounds.
Now, Formula E and Google Cloud have announced the latest development in their partnership: launching a data-driven initiative to develop AI tools for racing drivers, with a focus on expanding access to performance analytics beyond elite competitors.
The two organisations are developing a system called the Driver Agent, which uses Google Cloudās Vertex AI platform and Gemini family of large language models to provide coaching feedback to drivers based on telemetry data.
This technology forms part of their strategy to support emerging talent in motorsport without access to complex data analytics resources traditionally available to established racing teams.
The Driver Agent connects to Formula E driving simulators and processes extensive racing metrics – including lap times, speed, braking, acceleration, G-forces and downforce – to deliver tailored coaching advice to drivers in text or audio format.
Google Cloud and Formula E target driver development with AI coaching system
The technology processes simulator data in real time to offer recommendations similar to those provided by engineering teams to professional drivers during races.
“The introduction of Driver Agent is going to be a game changer for drivers on and off the track,” says Barnaby Voss, UKI & Partner Marketing Director at Google Cloud, EMEA. “By democratising access to this high-level performance data, the Driver Agent enables drivers of all backgrounds to refine their skills and improve on the track, regardless of resources or team size.”
The organisations have emphasised the potential for this technology to create more equitable access to performance feedback in a sport where coaching resources are often dependent on team budgets.
Formula E plans to implement the technology with its own drivers while also making it available to other teams and competitors in the broader motorsport community.
“Formula E has always been a platform for innovation, and we are thrilled to partner with Google Cloud to push the boundaries of what’s possible when you combine world-class technology with world-class motorsport,” says Beth Paretta, VP Sporting at Formula E.
More than Equal partnership expands Google Cloud role in women’s motorsport development
As part of the collaboration, Google Cloud is working with >= More than Equal, an organisation focused on developing female talent in motorsport.
The partnership includes providing access to advanced driving simulators at Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport and Centre of Excellence for Women in Sport.
The Driver Agent technology will be used in More than Equal’s Driver Development Programme, which supports five emerging female drivers.
This aspect of the initiative aligns with the stated goal of creating a merit-based pathway for racing talent regardless of gender or background.
The system provides personalised insights by comparing a driver's performance metrics against professional benchmarks, offering specific guidance on improving lap times, braking efficiency, acceleration and other technical aspects of racing.
For Formula E – the world’s first all-electric FIA World Championship – this collaboration represents an extension of its technological focus as it continues to position itself as a platform for automotive innovation.
Google Cloud brings its expertise in AI and data processing to the partnership as the Official Cloud Technology Services Partner for Formula E, using its Vertex AI platform to process the complex datasets generated during racing simulations.
The introduction of Driver Agent is going to be a game changer for drivers on and off the track.
The Driver Agent technology operates in a manner consistent with coaching models used in other sports, where data analytics have become central to performance development at both professional and amateur levels.
This represents the latest integration of AI technology into motorsport, where data processing capabilities have become increasingly central to competitive advantage in recent years.
“By developing and offering these cutting-edge tools, we are helping to create a future where racing talent is determined by skill, not resources, enabling a more diverse pool of drivers and especially women, rise to the very top of our sport,” Beth says.
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