On April 19th, after a long wait of five years and 1832 days, the highly anticipated 2024 FORMULA 1 Lenovo Chinese Grand Prix officially commenced at the Shanghai International Circuit. This not only marked the magnificent return of the F1 Chinese Grand Prix but also celebrated its 20th anniversary since inception. As the official technology partner of F1, Lenovo Group, with its outstanding technological prowess and reliable product and service support, provided critical technical support for this globally renowned sporting event.
From the race to the experience, supporting a premier event
The F1 event epitomizes the perfect blend of speed and technology. It is not only an arena of extreme speed but also a testing ground for advanced technology. As one of the world’s most technologically advanced and data-driven sports, the F1 event operations resemble a massive and intricate engineering project, where every aspect must be executed flawlessly. The event brings together over 300 team members, more than 93 cameras capturing thrilling moments on the track, and 147 specialized microphones providing audiences with immersive stereo experiences. According to statistics, the entire F1 season entails over 400 hours of live broadcasting, supplemented by over 200 hours of post-production content, reaching media outlets in over 180 countries and regions worldwide.
In this competition of speed and intelligence, from weather monitoring and track data collection to car telemetry and smooth transmission of high-definition live video, each stage demands rigorous technical support. Lenovo Group officially became the F1’s official technology partner starting from the 2022 season, consistently providing comprehensive technical support. Lenovo’s intelligent terminals, including high-performance laptops, desktops, and tablets, ensured efficient operations for event staff and the stable execution of the races. Particularly in the realm of data, Lenovo’s edge servers leverage powerful GPU intelligence to rapidly and accurately collect car data, establishing a stable and efficient computational base.
Furthermore, with F1 events spanning 24 locations globally over a tight schedule, sometimes less than a week apart, a complete set of equipment including hardware and servers needs to be air-transported from one venue to the next. This demands high flexibility, portability, and resilience against cold temperatures during flights. Lenovo’s suite of devices meets these demands effectively, creating a mobile and globally deployable “infrastructure” for F1. Lenovo also offers a diverse range of professional support services, from constructing digital office spaces to asset recycling services, for the F1 event. Lenovo’s technical team works closely with F1 engineers to ensure seamless technical operations throughout the entire season.
To provide viewers with a clearer and more immersive race experience, Lenovo’s high-performance workstations support complex tasks such as CAD design, graphic creation, and editing, enabling faster and more efficient real-time modeling broadcasts of F1 races. Additionally, to allow audiences to experience the speed and excitement of F1 races from multiple perspectives, Lenovo specially developed mini-games based on ThinkReality VRX headsets, enabling players to experience the thrill of driving an F1 car in virtual environments, truly becoming “one with F1.”
Connecting the globe through technological innovation from the Olympic stage to the F1 track
Lenovo Group deeply engages in major global sports events. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Lenovo Group, as a top sponsor and the first Chinese brand to join the ranks of global Olympic partners, integrated platforms, technology, and products into the entire Olympics, providing 30,000 computers and 580 technical personnel.
Starting from the Beijing Olympics, Lenovo truly embarked on internationalization, opening a new chapter for Chinese brands on the international stage. Currently, Lenovo provides products and services to 180 markets globally, possessing rich experience in global operations and management. Over the past 17 years, Lenovo has continuously deepened its support for major international events and sports events, from the Shanghai World Expo to the Beijing Winter Olympics, and then to the Chengdu Universiade and Hangzhou Asian Games. Leveraging its leading technological prowess, Lenovo maintains an impressive track record of “zero-fault” operations for major international events.
Lenovo’s global footprint and connectivity lay a solid foundation for its collaboration with F1. Starting from the 2022 season, Lenovo has deeply integrated its efficient, stable, and reliable products, solutions, and services into F1’s operations, supporting the intense competition of the 40-week, 24-location F1 calendar and providing the highest level of racing entertainment experience for over 700 million global fans.
By providing robust and reliable technical support to F1, Lenovo injects powerful innovation into this international event, promoting the seamless integration of technology with the sport of racing. The partnership between Lenovo and F1 is not only a perfect blend of technology and speed but also a deep fusion of brand charisma, shared values, and cultural ideals. Lenovo continuously pursues excellence and dares to challenge limits, aligning with the passion, speed, and dreams embodied by F1 racing, thus jointly embodying the pursuit of ultimate performance and endless exploration.
Yang Yuanqing, Chairman and CEO of Lenovo Group, stated, “The collaboration between Lenovo and F1 exemplifies the combination of technology and sports. We are honored to be the official technology partner of F1 and to assist F1 in presenting a more exciting racing feast for global fans with more advanced and intelligent solutions.”
F1 Chairman and CEO Stefano Domenicali expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration: “I am delighted that F1 can witness the 20th anniversary of the F1 Chinese Grand Prix together with Lenovo. Lenovo’s comprehensive technological support for F1 not only promotes the deep integration of technology and motorsports but also demonstrates its firm commitment to diversity and inclusiveness.”