The Importance of Streaming in in Formula 1

The 1953 British Grand Prix was the first Formula 1 race shown live on television in the UK but the quality of the images and streams have improved dramatically since then. To the top-notch level that F1 TV offers today.

F1 invested massively, from the days of Bernie Ecclestone when under his rule, Formula One Management) FOM standardised the Quality of F1 race weekend transmissions by taking all the production in-house. Since Liberty Media took over the sport, social media, television and streaming are of the highest order. Some say that F1 has the best coverage in global sport.

F1 isn’t the only part of the entertainment industry that’s changed thanks to the introduction of streaming technology. The way we watch TV shows and movies has changed beyond recognition thanks to streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

We can also look through a vast collection of videos on YouTube or check out the live feeds on social media sites. This leads to a new type of personalised viewing experience that often includes a higher level of social media engagement.

Streaming technology has also reached online casinos, with various live roulette table options. These games are played in a studio with a physical wheel and a human dealer. The gameplay is similar to the classic game that’s been around for centuries but streaming gives it a new presentation.

Streaming has also given us new ways to watch other sports, with major events like the FIFA World Cup having an increasing percentage of streamed views.

A video from F1 earlier this year explained exactly why we see such excellent coverage of their races. Every car taking part in a Grand Prix has a total of nine cameras in it. The camera that sits on top of the car is the most obvious, and this is the one that gives us the classic forward-facing view that we’re so used to.

However, the cars also have rear-facing cameras, as well as one that faces the driver and one inside their helmet, among others. There’s even a 360-degree camera that’s located on the body of the vehicle in front of the driver. The cars also have a couple of microphones in them, with plans to add more.

In April this year, F1 announced that it was launching the Formula 1 Channel in the US. This This subscription-free service is packed with race replays and highlights, including the most famous races from the past, and documentaries. With 24/7 programming, it points to fans having far more round-the-clock access to the action in the future and choosing when it suits them to catch up with what they've missed.

With the quality of streaming now possible and other technologies like virtual reality and augmented reality, we’re likely to see a far more personalised way of viewing races in the future. We should be able to choose which views to watch and what sounds to listen to, letting us focus on our favourite drivers and getting a unique perspective on each bend and curve.

The latest changes in F1 streaming allow us to enjoy the races more than ever before, but we can expect to see even more changes in the future as new technology gives us a prime seat next to the drivers.