Microsoft and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team have announced a multiyear partnership that will use Microsoft’s cloud and enterprise AI technologies to enhance race team performance.
The 2026 Formula 1 regulation changes usher in a new era of racing with increased electrification, efficiency and sustainability, representing one of the most significant technical evolutions in modern Formula 1 history. As the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team prepares for this transformation, it is partnering with Microsoft to harness the power of its cloud and enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) technologies across the business, from the factory to the racetrack.
“Our sport is driven by those who lead through innovation,” said Toto Wolff, CEO and team principal, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. “We are delighted to partner with Microsoft, one of the world’s foremost technology leaders, whose name is synonymous with groundbreaking innovation. This partnership also reflects our commitment to staying at the forefront of performance and progress. By putting Microsoft’s technology at the center of how we operate as a team, we will create faster insights, smarter collaboration and new ways of working as we look ahead to the next generation in F1.”
In a sport defined by split-second margins and data-driven decisions, Formula 1 places extreme demands on enterprise systems, including high data volumes, real-time analysis and global operations. Through their partnership, Microsoft and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team seek to demonstrate how enterprise technology can support performance at the highest level of competition.
“This partnership puts Microsoft’s cloud and enterprise AI technologies at the heart of racing performance, where milliseconds matter and data determines outcomes,” said Judson Althoff, CEO, Microsoft commercial business. “Together with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, we are harnessing data and turning it into real-time intelligence that powers faster decisions, smarter strategies and sustained competitive advantage – both on and off the track.”
Data collection
Each Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team car carries more than 400 sensors, generating over 1.1 million data points per second – from tire degradation and aerodynamic behavior to energy recovery system deployment and evolving track conditions.
Microsoft Azure and its AI capabilities will expand the team’s existing high-performance computing and data capabilities, both the factory and trackside, with scalable cloud and AI resources supporting simulation workloads, performance analysis, race strategy modeling and cross-team analytics.
Microsoft 365 and GitHub integration
Microsoft 365 and GitHub already support the team with key workflows across its sites and trackside, with expanded use of Microsoft 365 planned to further improve efficiency and innovation. Microsoft’s GitHub tools support faster engineering innovation and performance optimization, with the team set to deepen GitHub integration to streamline and accelerate development workflows.
Real-time testing and scaling
“It is a privilege to welcome Microsoft into the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team partner ecosystem,” said Richard Sanders, chief commercial officer, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. “Microsoft’s technology already plays a central role in how we operate as a business, and this partnership opens new opportunities to innovate as we look toward the next era of technological development. I look forward to seeing how our teams collaborate to unlock new ways of working across the organization.”
Using Microsoft Azure, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team leveraged real-time sensor data and cloud tools to pilot intelligent virtual sensors, enabling faster testing without new on-premises infrastructure. Using Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), the team scaled computing power up or down as needed, achieving technological advances while meeting financial and regulatory requirements.
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