Google Cloud Named Principal AI Partner for Formula E World Championship in Expanded Deal

Google Cloud Named Principal AI Partner for Formula E World Championship in Expanded Deal January 27, 2026 In a significant move highlighting the deepening convergence of high-performance sports and advanced cloud computing, Google Cloud has been elevated to the role of "Principal Artificial Intelligence Partner" for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. This multi-year agreement, announced on Wednesday, expands upon a foundational partnership established just over a year ago in January 2025, signaling a strategic commitment to leverage artificial intelligence as a core competitive and operational tool. The partnership underscores a critical trend in modern motorsport, where real-time data analytics and simulation are paramount. Formula E, as the world's premier electric racing series, operates at the intersection of cutting-edge automotive technology and sustainability, making it a natural proving ground for cloud and AI solutions aimed at optimizing performance while reducing environmental impact. Under the new deal, Formula E will integrate Google's cloud infrastructure and AI technologies more deeply, including its Gemini models, to enhance organizational agility and event efficiency. Key initiatives will involve using advanced AI to model the championship's logistical back-office operations and create detailed digital twins of race events and circuits. This digital approach is expected to significantly reduce the need for physical reconnaissance missions and the transport of heavy equipment to global venues, thereby lowering the operational carbon footprint of the championship. The collaboration aims to refine real-time strategy and deliver enhanced insights for both teams and a global broadcast audience. "Our expanded partnership with Google Cloud is a true game-changer for Formula E and for motorsport as a whole," said Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E. "The integration of Google Cloud's AI capabilities will unlock a new dimension of real-time performance optimization and strategic decision-making, both for the Championship and for our global broadcast audience. This collaboration will redefine how fans experience our races and set a new benchmark for technology integration in sport worldwide." Echoing the sentiment, Tara Brady, President of Google Cloud EMEA, stated, "Formula E is a hub of innovation, where milliseconds can define success. This expanded partnership is a testament to the power of Google Cloud's AI and data analytics, showing how our technology can deliver a competitive advantage in the most demanding scenarios." The deal is part of a broader pattern within the data-intensive world of motorsport, where top teams are forging deep alliances with cloud providers. Recently, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team selected Microsoft as its cloud and AI partner, while Oracle Red Bull Racing relies on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. In 2025, the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team named AI infrastructure specialist CoreWeave as its official AI partner. These partnerships typically complement teams' substantial on-premises data centers, which house proprietary supercomputers used for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and other sensitive design work. Source: datacenterdynamics