F1 using simulations to trial potential new starting grids

  • Published on 14 Jan 2019 14:15
  • comments 5
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Formula 1 has created its own simulations to trial different ways cars could line-up on the grid in the future. F1 currently uses a staggered two-by-two system with eight metres separating each grid spot. 

Pat Symonds, who previously worked as Williams' chief technical officer, is working with Liberty Media as part of a team that looks at ways of improving the quality of racing. 

Last year, Symonds revealed hat Liberty was looking at how to positively change the start grid line-up by using F1 Esports. However, in the face of realistic difficulties, it has been forced to change its approach.

"We do want to make our decisions based on evidence," said Symonds. "Over the years we've moved towards this eight-metre, staggered grid formation.

"We asked ourselves what would happen if we moved the cars closer together and put them side-by-side again - maybe not four and three like they used to be, but two-by-two.

"When you want to simulate something like that, if you just do it as a physics problem you just get a trivial answer: if you start cars closer together, and they all accelerate at the same rate, they arrive at the first corner closer together.

"That's not what you want to know. What you want to know is what's actually going to happen. So, we built a simulation that uses artificial intelligence, but we can also put a human in."

The new system was originally trialled on the official F1 game, however it didn't include realistic circumstances such as the dirty air effect, as F1 2018 is built for an enjoyable gaming experience. 

The simulation system works with artificial intelligence, however, a human player can also be inputted and it gathers its data by running "50 races of two laps".

Using this method allows them to "statistically analyse every single position of the cars at all times, so we can say 'when we did this to the grid we got 3% more accidents, we got 5% more passes, we got 20% more side-by-side racing'". 

Why just be against? I don't mind them investigating these things, but I do hope that they (and fear they don't) come up with a sensible, non-artificial alternative. In my opinion, there's too many 'all for the show' and too little 'all for the sport' changes.

  • 1
  • Jan 14 2019 - 19:00

Replies (5)

Login to reply
  • f1dave

    Posts: 782

    WHY !

    • + 0
    • Jan 14 2019 - 16:09
    • Because, no one broke it from a very long time. Liberty wants do it, and flaunt it as one their very few achievements.

      • + 0
      • Jan 14 2019 - 21:53
  • "Algorithms will help us with this", Steam said, as they opened their flood gates and just let a whole bunch of teddy bear's full of glass into their store.

    • + 0
    • Jan 14 2019 - 17:35
  • Why just be against? I don't mind them investigating these things, but I do hope that they (and fear they don't) come up with a sensible, non-artificial alternative. In my opinion, there's too many 'all for the show' and too little 'all for the sport' changes.

    • + 1
    • Jan 14 2019 - 19:00
  • f1dave

    Posts: 782

    'When we did this to the grid we got 3% more accidents, we got 5% more passes, we got 20% more side-by-side racing' and we got 0% interest from the fans !

    • + 0
    • Jan 14 2019 - 20:33

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country United States of America
  • Date of b. May 5 1932 (91)
  • Place of b. New York City, New York, U.S., United States of America
  • Weight 0 kg
  • Length 0 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar