Forecasting the Future

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing has announced an extension of its Innovation Partnership with IBM to include services from The Weather Company, an IBM Business. This builds upon its long-term partnership with IBM, which continues to accelerate its race scenario planning and design processes.

Weather is one of the key variables in car performance, with data on atmospheric pressure, likely temperatures, wind direction and rainfall being crucial across a range of strategic and tactical variables. For instance, accurate historical data is incredibly important in tyre selection, the allocations of which have to be made 14 weeks before a flyaway grand prix. Nearer the date, the combination of recent and historical weather trends for the event location is plugged into software models allowing the team to develop highly accurate baseline setups for the car’s aerodynamic performance, ensuring it hits the ground running at the track.

The Weather Company uses one of the most sophisticated and powerful analytical engines ever seen, creating weather forecasts for 2.2 billion locations on the planet, responding to 50 billion requests for information every day and servicing the needs of 3,500 business clients that rely on The Weather Company to help make better, more informed decisions.

“We are really excited to have started working with The Weather Company as part of our IBM relationship, providing us with accurate worldwide weather insights,” says head of race engineering Guillaume Rocquelin. “With their advanced models and extensive range of weather stations, they are proven to be at the leading edge of global weather forecasting. Their easily accessible dashboard and customisable API (Application Programming Interface) information and database, will support Aston Martin Red Bull Racing operations with live and precise weather forecasting, tailored to our needs, in any location. This will improve planning and performance throughout our business, from pre-race event logistics to on-track activities.”

“Weather is one of the most critical variables in performance improvement – whether that be on the race track or in business and commerce,” says Craig West, managing director of The Weather Company, an IBM Business. “We are thrilled that dynamic organisations such as Aston Martin Red Bull Racing are turning to IBM and The Weather Company for insights that will drive improvements in performance.”