![]() ![]() The group as a whole sees even more graphs showing lap times, speeds, running order, and individual driver parameters such as acceleration, braking, gear changes, and even steering angles. TV screens show the official televised coverage, while each engineer has two monitors, sometimes with up to 20 individual - and to the layperson, utterly baffling - data feeds on each one. Due to F1 rules, once the race weekend begins in earnest, little can be changed on the car, so Friday practice is when the hard work is done. Practice is when Mission Control is at its busiest. “A Grand Prix car is an intelligent vehicle with phenomenal processing power,” explained Dennis, describing the task of managing and formatting the data as, “complex beyond comprehension.” There are up to 300 sensors fitted to an F1 car, and data is often processed by a specific part of it - braking force, tire pressure, vibration, and G forces are all monitored and processed by each individual wheel hub, for example. “We simulate everything,” a McLaren representative told Digital Trends, without a hint of over exaggeration. McLaren’s super computers run 300,000 race simulations per second, matching data taken from the car in real time against predictive models to optimize the strategy. The front row of five monitor the engine and drivetrain, the second row examines suspension and other components, while the final three are all race engineers. It’s made up of three rows, where automotive engineers, strategists, and aerodynamicists – most with science or math-related degrees – are seated in a five-five-three formation, all giving one-hundred-percent focus on the task in hand. McLaren’s super computers run 300,000 race simulations per second. McLaren has signed a new three-year technology partnership with NTT Communications - a Japanese company best known around the world for operating the NTT DoCoMo mobile network in Japan - to assist in managing that data, and to expedite its journey between the team and almost every department involved in getting a race car onto the starting grid, and past the checkered flag. However, it soon became clear the drive to win only gets you so far in modern Formula One racing and perhaps surprisingly, an endless flow of data plays an equally critical role. The commitment to breeding and promoting success is almost overwhelming. It’s a philosophy found in every minute detail throughout its road cars, race cars, the Centre itself, and even the placement of the trophy cabinets, which are in direct view of the race preparation team, and must be passed by everyone who visits the swish cafeteria. ![]() “Winning is what it’s all about,” he said. Seated in front of the current MP4-31 Formula One car at the company’s hyper-modern Technology Centre in Woking, U.K., he spoke in a calm, steady tone of voice and with absolute authority. Image used with permission by copyright holderRon Dennis, McLaren Technology Group’s CEO, has incredible presence. ![]()
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