Aston Martin F1 team centralises all race data with NetApp
The Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team has completed a full migration of its data storage operations to NetApp, marking a new phase in its approach to managing large-scale data requirements for its racing and engineering operations.
The transition means that all aspects of the team's data infrastructure - from car design and simulation to race-day strategy and telemetry - are now managed exclusively on NetApp's suite of data solutions. According to the team, this is expected to facilitate more rapid design iterations, efficient management of massive datasets, and faster decision-making during races.
AI-ready boost
NetApp's technology, including its AI-ready data infrastructure and BlueXP dashboard, is being used to provide unified control and observability across Aston Martin Aramco's entire data ecosystem. This data environment is designed to enable engineering and operations staff to make split-second decisions, relying on up-to-the-minute analytics derived from cloud and edge computing environments.
NetApp StorageGRID forms the backbone of this structure, offering scalable object storage capable of withstanding the demands of enterprise-level workloads. This storage is geo-distributed, ensuring data resilience and accessibility between the Silverstone-based headquarters, remote race circuits, and various research and testing sites. With BlueXP, data management is centralised, allowing engineers and analysts to examine real-time telemetry, run simulations, and optimise strategies with a single interface.
Engineering and simulation
The Formula One team's use of NetApp includes the analysis of petabytes of data generated through wind tunnel testing, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, and trackside sensors collecting telemetry. The speed with which this data is analysed and acted upon has implications not only for race outcomes but also for vehicle and component design during the off-season and between Grands Prix.
Fabrizio Pilotti, Chief Information Officer of the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team, said,
"From simulations in the CoreWeave Wind Tunnel and CFD workloads to trackside telemetry, we generate and analyze petabytes of data in the pursuit of building a winning car and a winning team. NetApp provides scalable and secure infrastructure tailored for AI capability and other high-performance computing workloads, which gives us the power we need to make the right data-driven decisions across design, simulation and race-day strategy."
This capability to run simulations and process workloads faster means that engineering teams can iterate on aerodynamics, chassis developments, and race strategy before a car appears on track, providing a perceived competitive advantage.
Race data management
By centralising its data strategy with NetApp, Aston Martin Aramco aims to ensure that information collected at race events is immediately available for tactical adjustments and long-term analysis. Teams at the circuit and back at headquarters are now connected with direct access to relevant data libraries, improving collaborative decision-making without the delays traditionally associated with operating multiple storage platforms.
According to NetApp, this collaboration is a reference for the increasing overlap between high-performance computing and elite motorsport. Gabie Boko, Chief Marketing Officer at NetApp, commented,
"Formula One is one of the most demanding technical environments in the world. Races are won by split-second determinations on the track, built on a foundation of thousands of design and engineering decisions over the preceding weeks. The Aston Martin Aramco team needs prompt access to massive datasets from multiple sources without wasting time or resources on orchestrating data across different platforms. The trust that Aston Martin Aramco has placed in NetApp as its sole storage provider is a validation of our expertise in supporting intelligent data infrastructure that enables data-driven decision-making at scale."
The shift to NetApp's infrastructure is also set to assist Aston Martin Aramco's remote and distributed operations. The company's technologies underpin activities ranging from wind tunnel testing at the team's AMR Technology Campus to real-time race management around the globe.
Background and context
Aston Martin's return to Formula One in 2021 was accompanied by significant investments in technology, including the launch of its Silverstone technology campus and the development of new driver support systems. The team's driver line-up includes Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso, supported by a roster that spans both the men's and all-female F1 Academy series.
Aside from on-track performance, the team is involved in initiatives focusing on sustainability, inclusion, and community engagement, and has obtained ISO 50001 compliance for energy efficiency.
The full migration to NetApp closes a period of technical integration that began with the company's return to the Formula One circuit, reinforcing the increasing reliance of motorsport organisations on AI-enabled, high-performance data platforms to support daily operations and competitive ambitions.
