Williams F1 Gets BT Network Boost

BT will provide communications services to the Williams F1 team after a successful pilot demonstrated how enhanced networking could help the team improve on its third place finish in the Constructor’s Championship last season.

The two firms have entered into a “multi-year strategic technology partnership” that will boost car performance through more reliable big data processing capabilities and video analysis.

BT will also deliver fixed and voice mobile services through a cloud platform that can be accessed on a multitude of devices.

F1 communications

“Vastly increased network speed can totally alter the way we work. The benefits for our routine operations are self-evident and witnessed by an enormous increase in our ‘off site’ analytical ability,” explained Pat Symons, chief technical officer at Williams Martini Racing. “The less obvious benefits include the ability to gain higher speed access to our crucial information sources, independently of where we are racing.

“This includes, for example, the ability to interrogate remotely our CAD system back at base, build new assemblies and then export the required information for use on the racetrack in a matter of minutes.“

Team Principal Sir Frank Williams and BT CEO Gavin Patterson have called the agreement as a natural fit for two “quintessentially British brands” used to using technology to compete in a global market.

British partnership

BT’s branding will appear on Williams’ driver headsets as well as in its garage and hospitality areas at all 20 races in the 2015 season.

“It’s really exciting to be joining forces with Williams,” said Patterson. “They are one of the most successful and well known Formula One teams in the world. Both BT and Williams have an illustrious history of competing successfully at the top with cutting edge technology.”

“An independent team like Williams relies on creating a stable of loyal partners to go racing and in BT we have a new high profile addition who we look forward to working with in the years ahead,” added Sir Frank.

The partnership will also see BT support Williams’ Advanced Engineering Division, which takes technology developed for Formula One and commercialises it for industries such as the automotive, aerospace, defence and energy markets.

Rival McLaren is also looking to take its innovations to other sectors and launched the McLaren Technology Group earlier this year to bring its technology to market.

Communications are becoming increasingly vital to F1, with a number of teams partnering with networking firms to ensure that they can instantly analyse data from their cars in the hope that this can give them an edge over their rivals. Tata provides connectivity to all circuits on the calendar as well as Mercedes, while AT&T is providing services to Red Bull.

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