F1 News, Reports and Race Results

F1 cars to look faster on TV in 2019 thanks to a few 'tricks'

Formula 1 wants to offer TV viewers a better representation of the cars' speed by adjusting the positions of its trackside cameras and adding a few production "tricks".

For all the criticism often directed towards F1 by its fan base, today's Grand Prix cars remain a spectacular sight, at least when experienced in person.

F1's speed and sound dissipate however when they're transferred through the cables, a relative loss that Liberty Media wants to regain this year with a few production tweaks, as Formula 1's head of TV and Media Dean Locke explained to Autosport.

"There’s a big push for 2019 to reflect the speed of the sport," said Locke.

"There’s a rethink on all camera positions. If you’re in the grandstand and watch them, they look incredible, don’t they?

"Camera angles, or lenses, can cheat that quite a lot, and make them look not so dramatic and not quite as quick.

"So we looked at different ways to do that, a few little tricks. We’ve always been good at doing whip-pans to show the high speed of the cars, making them look a little bit more edgy in places.

"There were some tracks last year - in Japan for instance - where we really highlighted where these cars are good."

©F1TV

To enhance the muffled sound of F1's hybrid engines, a main talking point among the fans since 2014, Formula 1 experimented with microphone positioning and digital processing.

While audio has improved, Locke insisted that F1 will pursue its efforts in the sound department.

"Audio has changed quite dramatically," he added.

"We’ve done a lot more around the car and on the car. If you look at the pictures, they tend to be at the front, and the audio out the back.

"A lot of thought went into that in 2018, and a lot more for 2019.

"It is successful, but at some tracks it’s better than others. The Honda engines sounded really good last year. We’ve done some really exciting stuff on that."

Last season, TV viewers enjoyed a whole new package of on-screen and on-board graphics, with the halo acting as a digital display.

Locked revealed that more graphics linked to additional insight and info shall be introduced as F1 leverages its relationship with Amazon Web Services.

"We have graphics that can actually explain, 'He started on those tyres, he's going to stop then,' while actually making it more dynamic, because if the VSC comes out it can throw those kind of things out," Locke said.

"We're using all the data from Friday and Saturday to come up with that algorithm of what we think will happen. If we can explain that in a simple and easy to read manner, it will be a huge win."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

Alonso pushed through agonizing pain to complete Sao Paulo GP

Fernando Alonso braved both physical agony and mechanical challenges in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix,…

20 mins ago

Alpine double-podium in Brazil could deliver $30 million windfall

Alpine’s remarkable double podium at the São Paulo Grand Prix with Esteban Ocon and Pierre…

15 hours ago

F1i's Driver Ratings for the 2024 São Paulo GP

Alexander Albon, Williams (Did Not Start): 5.5/10 Alex Albon is definitely going through something of…

16 hours ago

Jos Verstappen rips British media after Brazilian Max fest

Jos Verstappen wasted no time after his son spectacular win at the São Paulo Grand…

18 hours ago

Leclerc left with ‘mixed feelings’ after disappointing Sao Paulo GP

Charles Leclerc's weekend in Sao Paulo was unfortunately a stark contrast to Ferrari's recent triumphs…

19 hours ago

Back when Kimi knew exactly what he was doing

Twelve years ago on this day, Kimi Raikkonen took a popular win at the 2012…

21 hours ago