Data & AI Mastery How F1 Processes 1.1 MILLION Data Points Per Second — Ruth Buscombe, Motorsport Engineer and Presenter, F1 TV
Learn how Cambridge Spark helps organisations and leaders develop the data and AI skills that drive real transformation: cambridgespark.com
Ever wondered how Formula 1 teams make lightning-fast decisions at 200mph? In this episode, host Raoul-Gabriel Urma sits down with Ruth Buscombe, former race strategist for Scuderia Ferrari, Sauber, and Haas F1, to unpack the incredible world of real-time data strategy in one of the most high-pressure environments on Earth.
Ruth shares what it's really like making million-dollar calls in milliseconds, how her team processes 1.1 million data points per second from each car, and why the best lessons come from spectacular failures (not champagne-soaked victories).
One of the most fascinating parts of the discussion is when Ruth explains the eternal tension between data and gut feel, and why human intuition still matters even when you have the best models in the world.
Spoiler: your "gut" is really just your brain's LLM of past experience.
They also explore how F1 teams decide which sensors and data points actually move the needle when margins come down to 0.012 seconds, and what it's like to make high-stakes pit-stop calls with incomplete information (sound familiar, business leaders?).
Ruth also shares some powerful stories about ‘failing forward’, including why Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says "the day we fail is the day our competitors should fear us most."
Plus, they look at how AI is transforming sports broadcasting, with F1 now able to search 75 years of race footage using simple natural-language queries. And of course, they wrap up with a quick-fire round covering everything from Python vs MATLAB to favourite subjects at Cambridge and yes, Taylor Swift workout playlists.
Be sure to follow Data & AI Mastery wherever you listen to your podcasts to never miss an episode.
You can check out Formula 1's official site to learn more about the sport, or head to F1 TV if you want to dive deeper into the data and analysis Ruth works on.
Whether you're leading a startup, managing a data team, or just fascinated by how top performers think under pressure, this conversation is packed with insights you can actually use.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction: Learning from F1's best failures
02:00 - Ruth's journey from Cambridge engineering to the F1 pit wall
03:00 - The insane scale of F1 data (1.1M points/second!)
06:00 - How do you decide what data to collect?
09:00 - Three pillars: Performance, competitor analysis & race strategy
13:00 - When should you trust data vs. gut instinct?
17:00 - Managing risk like a portfolio manager
20:00 - Creating a culture that embraces pressure
23:00 - AI transforming F1 broadcasting & fan experience
26:00 - Quick-fire: Python, physics & being a Swiftie
27:00 - Key takeaways for business leaders
Links
Connect with Ruth on LinkedIn
Follow Raoul for more AI insights on LinkedIn
Explore Cambridge Spark’s AI upskilling programmes at cambridgespark.com
Visit Formula 1's official site at formula1.com
Visit F1 TV at f1tv.formula1.com