Linux and Formula One

Formula One motor racing is no longer about famous car marques, its about precise science and using technology to shave another fraction of a second off a lap time, and Linux is playing a pivotal role in helping the race teams achieve this.

kvif1gk8 Linux and Formula One

As a technical sport motor racing demands of its participants a close understanding of the technologies that can help them. F1 motor racing is probably second only to the aerospace industry in the application of aerodynamic simulation and wind tunnel technology. It is a testament to the rapid advance of Linux in high performance computing that most teams in Formula 1 have been using Linux systems in their aerodynamic and engine workshops for a number of years.

“Formula One is a product excellence business that’s all about innovation and technology,” says Jonathan Neale, the managing director of McLaren Racing. “We’re competing for first place in an environment where the difference between first and tenth is about 0.6 seconds, so we’re constantly seeking fractions of a second in performance improvement. On average we’ll make a change to the car every 20 minutes during the course of a season, and to do that, simulation is vital in making efficient changes to the car.” Back in the factory, McLaren uses computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis running on Linux on SGI Altix high performance computers to simulate and predict the car’s behaviour.

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Comment by Guillaume on April 30, 2008

I was wondering if considering today’s global warming, increasingly high gas prices, and resulting increasingly high use of biofuel, leading to starvation in some developing countries, the philosophy of Linux was still compatible with Formula One.

Comment by E@zyVG on April 30, 2008

Don’t take things to extreme, as everyone is aware of global problems. Problems are needed to be looked at and solved, and not just plain verbal assaults on every other matters, as you are doing it here, on this blog.

What you are saying is indeed of global concern, and I agree with you. But please stop simply throwing out words where ever you want. If you have something to say on this issues, make a blog post and let others send you feedback about their thoughts.

And yes, Linux philosophy as technology is very much compatible with Formula 1.

Sorry, if my comments sounded bad, I didnot want to hurt anyone. It is just that while reading the morning news, I came accross several articles (again) dealing about global problems. And then while reading the computer news (which always include your very interesting blog), it just sounded strange to me how people could use a lot of gas just for fun, while global problems are becoming increasingly accute. I just want to say this, not to plain verbal assaults.

No probs, I understand the frustration. I have written posts on topics such as environment, society and other global trends/issues on my other blog, as this one is primarily about Linux and Open Source Software.

Did you know that from January 1 2008 all Formula One cars are obliged to run with a 5.75% blend of oxygenates derived from biological sources. The new rules are consistent with one of the latest EU directives which will require all road cars to use the same bio-content, and with time the percentage will only climb. Other examples from F1 world:

*The fuel used by the WilliamsF1 team, developed by its technical partner Petrobras, has devised a new process for the manufacture of second-generation bioethanol from already-utilised agribusiness sources such as crop waste.
*Honda team for second year is running “Earth Car” campaign, again promoting the use of safer fuel/energy sources and cleaner planet.

BTW, Max Mosely of F1 has announced that all cars will become hybrid by 2013, along with other changes to the vehicles.

You see, it is not always that bad, steps are taken, though very slowly. Keep your cool and if possible help our planet and people. :)