VIRTUAL REALITY | REMOTE GARAGES
Remote control Called variously ‘virtual garages’, ‘mission control’ or ‘race support rooms’ is the future of race engineering sitting in the warm back at HQ? By DIETER RENCKEN
12 F1 2021 • Racecar Engineering
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nce Formula 1 took the decision to resume action in July 2020 after a Covid-induced threemonth break, one of the crucial criteria was the number of travelling staff per team permitted paddock access via tightly controlled ‘bubbles’. The decision largely hinged on restrictions imposed by authorities in the region the sport targeted for its return, namely Austria’s Styrian province, home to the Red Bull Ring. A limit of 80 staff per team was imposed, half the number a well-heeled team would usually take to grands prix, of which around 60 are required to directly operate two cars, with the balance providing engineering, logistics, media, marketing and hospitality services. Although the last three activities were downsized considerably, it soon became clear some of the performance-related functions would need to be executed remotely.
