Formula One racing is a thrilling sport that captivates millions of fans worldwide. Unlike many other sporting events, an F1 race weekend spans three days—Friday, Saturday, and Sunday—packed with lots of on track action. For guests attending these races, staying informed and engaged throughout the weekend is crucial to fully enjoying the experience. With the integration of Alexa Smart Properties into corporate hospitality and sponsor boxes, guests can receive real-time updates, detailed insights, and convenient services that enhance their overall race weekend.
Our intern, Toby Stickells, researched how Alexa Smart Properties could be used to improve guest experience at the F1. Although none of the mentioned features have yet been installed at an F1 venue, they are all possible. He explores how Alexa ensures that guests stay informed, provides real-time updates, maximizes the track-side experience, allows easy departures for guests, and offers detailed insights into the sport.
1. Ensuring guests stay informed
A significant part of an Formula One race weekend that sets it apart from other sporting events is that it spans three days (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). Guests may need reminders about the events starting at specific times and the overall schedule and timings throughout the weekend, for instance, alerts with countdowns will pop up to remind guests when the race or qualifying session is about to start. If guests are fortunate enough to attend a race weekend where Formula Two races are also happening, a schedule for those events can be provided with a simple command.
2. Real-time updates and insights
During the race weekend, as guests’ hospitality areas may only overlook one part of the track, they might miss or be unaware of what is happening on the other side. Alexa will provide live updates on fastest laps, pit stops, live timings, etc. Guests might also choose a driver, view the driver’s onboard camera, and listen to their team radio while racing, all with the simple command:
“Alexa, can I please go onboard with Lewis Hamilton.”
Allowing them to follow their favourite driver or watch an intense battle from onboard one of the cars. Additionally, guests might see the live championship standings with a simple command, keeping them engaged and informed about championship-deciding battles on track.
3. Maximising your track-side experience
When watching Formula 1 live, you don’t see everything that happens on track as you can only see a certain section. Now with Alexa, guests could ensure they don’t miss any of the action during the race (overtakes, crashes, spins, pit stops, re-watching the start) with simple commands like:
- “Alexa, can you please show me Tsunoda overtaking Perez?”
- “Alexa, can you please show me Sainz’s crash?”
- “Alexa, can you please show me Verstappen’s first pit stop?”
- “Alexa, can you please show me the start of the race again?”
Guests are ensured not to miss any of the action with these highlights features, which will stop fans from questioning whether watching at home is better than watching at the track.
4. Easy and effortless departures
After the race, everyone dreads the chaos of waiting for hours to exit the circuit and then facing even longer delays due to congestion when leaving the car-park. With Alexa Smart Properties, guests can ask about and receive advice on the best departure times to minimize queuing, using data from previous years for a smoother experience. Additionally, guests can use a single command to ask Alexa to book a taxi for them, ensuring a hassle-free and swift departure from the circuit.
5. Utilising Alexa for detailed insights
An integral corner of Formula One is the statistics from previous races, including drivers’ recent performances and their career achievements. Guests can ask Alexa for specific drivers’ career stats, current season statistics, or particular stats related to a specific circuit. This feature allows guests to deepen their understanding of the ongoing performances and the drivers they are watching making them feel more involved and enjoy the whole experience more.
Whilst this is all largely hypothetical, none of the above has so far been installed into an F1 venue, it is all possible. We’re excited about the future of Alexa Smart Properties and how Alexa could be integrated into the F1 experience.
Interested in learning more about Alexa Smart Properties and integrating an Alexa into your property? Rabbit & Pork are an Alexa Smart Properties solution provider to hospitality, stadiums, and senior living. Check out our services here.