A horizon-stabilized camera on the front of the car allows for a better understanding of the tilt at Zandvoort
While the teams optimize the F1 cars to make the Grand Prix races increasingly impressive, the organizers innovate in technology so that fans can experience the race as if they were there. The gyroscopic camera is the latest innovation to arrive in F1.
More and more technology is invading Formula 1. We were already allowed the cameras in the helmets, on the cars, and this year, on the pedals, so that fans can experience the Grand Prix up close. This season, Formula 1 has launched a new innovation: the gyroscope camera.
This camera was used for the first time during the Dutch Grand Prix. But only Carlos Sainz was equipped with it. It is the same one used in Moto GP to understand the leaning angle of the riders during a turn. Therefore, during the Grand Prix in Zandvoort, we were able to realistically perceive, without leaving our couch, the tilt in certain corners. A unique perspective for the pleasure of the viewers.
The idea for this innovation came from a fan who sent a letter to the FIA expressing their desire to see the banking of Zandvoort up close. This camera allows one to appreciate the corners’ incline, and the circuit was well-suited for it.
Going sideways with @ScuderiaFerrari 😵💫
The iconic final turn of Zandvoort!#DutchGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/eUNkNCIEpt
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 3, 2022
Someone wrote to us to say that it would be great if we could actually see the banking tilt at Zandvoort. Usually, the camera tilt on the car is equal to that of the track. It’s not like a motorcycle, which leans up to 68 degrees, and it’s really impressive. What the cameras on motorcycles do is great, and we found a camera that did the job, explained Steve Smith, responsible for the images transmitted by the cars during the Grand Prix.
« To be honest, if we hadn’t been able to test it in Zandvoort, it would have been a bit like plastering a wooden leg. We couldn’t test it in Monza because it’s flat! So we insisted a lot. To be honest, there were some imperfections on the plan, but we discussed it and decided that the Dutch Grand Prix was our only chance this season. We felt that the positives outweighed the negatives.
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During the free practice sessions in Monza, Lando Norris saw his car equipped with the same camera, but the captured shots were not broadcasted due to their minimal impact on the footage.
