AEC AI and Tech Strategy Podcast How Cloud and DevOps Are Fueling Innovation at Formula 1 – Ep 095
Nov 11, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Ryan Kirk, Head of Cloud and DevOps at Formula 1, shares insights from his 15-year tenure at the team. He discusses how F1 employs mobile data centers and resilient cloud architecture to enhance live broadcasts. Ryan explains the balance of rapid innovation with security, the role of AI in automation, and the fascinating future of quantum computing. He emphasizes a culture of 'build it and they will come,' showcasing the transformative power of DevOps in high-stakes racing environments.
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Mobile Data Center On The Road
- Formula 1 ships a mobile data center to each race, built in-house and mounted in containers.
- Teams power up, reseat hardware if shaken, and run full system tests before race day under a change freeze.
Design By Traffic Pattern
- Architecture choices depend on traffic patterns: continuous 24/7 services use different designs than short-lived, spiky race workloads.
- Choose containers/Kubernetes, serverless, or event-driven patterns based on usage characteristics.
Automate For Remote, Episodic Operations
- Automate repeatable processes heavily because track systems are inaccessible between events and require consistency.
- Integrate DevSecOps early to keep operations secure and reduce manual toil for engineers.