The Hungarian Grand Prix got off to a rocky start for Mercedes on Friday, not because of car troubles, but due to a global IT outage from their partner, CrowdStrike.
An update rolled out by the cybersecurity firm caused widespread issues across various industries, impacting air travel, banking, healthcare, and even Formula 1. Sky Sports, the official F1 broadcaster in the UK, also faced problems.
The Mercedes F1 team wasn't immune. Working closely with its partners to avoid disruptions, the Brackley squad scrambled to ensure their trackside operations wouldn't be hampered before the first practice session.
Thankfully, their efforts paid off. Relevant fixes were implemented, and Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were able to hit the track as planned.
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In today's F1, smooth operations rely heavily on robust computer systems. Real-time data analysis is crucial for making split-second decisions that can influence the outcome of the race.
Communication and data exchange between the Hungarian track and team headquarters, including information for simulator drivers to optimize performance, are also critical factors.
Meanwhile, CrowdStrike is actively working to rectify the situation. CEO George Kurtz assured everyone that the issue stemmed from a faulty update for Windows systems, not a security breach or cyberattack.
"CrowdStrike is actively working with customers impacted by a defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts,” commented Krutz, a racer in his own right.
"Mac and Linux hosts are not impacted. This is not a security incident or cyberattack.
"The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed."
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