Tata launches F1® Connectivity Innovation Prize

Tata Communications, a leading provider of A New World of Communications™ today unveils the F1 Connectivity Innovation Prize - a global platform that will engage international brainpower against the demanding backdrop of Formula One racing. By assembling an unprecedented calibre of Formula One judges and a coveted US $50,000 prize fund, the prize will foster and reward innovative and creative thinking in connectivity.

A distinguished panel of judges is comprised of 2008 FIA Formula One Drivers’ World Champion and Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team driver, Lewis Hamilton, Lewis’ 2014 World Championship-leading team Executive Director (Technical), Paddy Lowe; Formula One Management’s Chief Technical Officer, John Morrison; Tata Communications’ Managing Director of F1 Business, Mehul Kapadia and former F1 driver and Sky Sports F1 expert commentator, Martin Brundle.

The Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team’s Lewis Hamilton said, “Technology is absolutely key to success in Formula One racing and we are lucky to attract some of the best engineers and technical brains to work in our sport. The challenges that have been set for the F1 Connectivity Innovation Prize look fascinating and I hope, will attract a huge response. For anyone with technology aspirations and a desire to get involved in the world of Formula One racing, this is a great opportunity.”

The prize will catalyse next-generation technologies based around a series of three challenges announced over the course of the 2014 FIA Formula One World Championship. The initiative will encourage entrants to test their creative and technical knowledge by expressing how they would solve real-world challenges for Formula One racing. Additional prizes will include VIP trips to the Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco 2015.

John Morrison, Formula One Management’s Chief Technical Officer, said at the launch of the Tata Communications F1 Connectivity Innovation Prize, “Technology has always been a hallmark of Formula One, so this opportunity to open some of our innovations to the world brightest minds is an exciting initiative from Tata Communications. The resultant ideas should present engaging new features that the talented Formula One engineering team can rapidly develop to enhance the F1 fan experience.”

The three challenges will be announced exclusively on Tata Communications' F1 Connectivity Innovation Prize website, starting with a design evolution of the sport’s display of live data provided by Formula One Management. This will be announced in the lead-up to the 2014 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix. Challenge two will be announced before the Formula 1 Gran Premio d’Italia 2014 with the third and final challenge announced on the eve of the 2014 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix.

Julie Woods-Moss, Chief Marketing Officer and CEO of Nextgen at Tata Communications, says, “Driving innovation is at the heart of our business and the F1 Connectivity Innovation Prize is one of the latest initiatives that we are bringing to the world of Formula One. In our third year with the sport, this new global platform will allow us, together with Formula One Management and Mercedes AMG Petronas to connect with the creative thinkers across the world to push the boundaries of technology and design innovation in this fast-paced sport.”

Tata Communications is a Technology Supplier of Formula 1 and provides Formula One Management with world-class connectivity to all 19 Formula One race locations over its global network, the largest in the world. It also provides hosting and content delivery services to Formula1.com, which is accessed by tens of millions of fans around the globe. The innovative partnership positions Tata Communications corporately as a Technology Supplier of Formula 1 with category exclusive designations as Official Connectivity Provider of Formula 1 and Official Web Hosting and Content Delivery Network Provider of Formula1.com.

As the Official Managed Connectivity Supplier for Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team, Tata Communications also supports the data transmission over its global networks to keep Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at the leading edge of the championship.