Formula E & Google Cloud Partner on AI Driver Coach

Formula E and Google Cloud have unveiled a new project that could reshape how drivers access performance data in motorsport.

At the centre is a shared aim: to make elite-level coaching insights available to all drivers, not just those with the resources of top-tier teams.

This partnership focuses on developing a tool called the Driver Agent. It uses AI to give personalised coaching based on detailed performance data.

The initiative targets gaps in access to race data tools, especially for women and drivers from underrepresented communities.

AI-powered tool offers real-time coaching

The Driver Agent runs on Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform, using the Gemini family of large language models.

These are systems trained to understand language and data inputs, enabling the tool to deliver coaching in real time.

Connected to Formula E driving simulators, the Driver Agent analyses lap times, speed, braking, acceleration, G-forces and downforce.

This data is then used to generate coaching tips, shared in either audio or written formats. The idea is to mimic the guidance offered by engineers to professional drivers during races, using simulator inputs to replicate high-pressure racing conditions.

Barnaby Voss, UKI & Partner Marketing Director at Google Cloud, EMEA, explains the value: “The introduction of Driver Agent is going to be a game changer for drivers on and off the track.

"By democratising access to this high-level performance data, the Driver Agent enables drivers of all backgrounds to refine their skills and improve on the track, regardless of resources or team size.”

For many drivers, especially those outside of the well-funded teams, such coaching has been inaccessible.

The Driver Agent attempts to fill that gap by giving them the data insights that can shape a racing career.

Formula E opens up its tech for broader use

Formula E, the world’s first all-electric FIA World Championship, plans to deploy the Driver Agent across its own racing line-up.

But the ambition goes beyond the championship grid. The tool will also be made available to the wider motorsport world – any driver, team or competition looking to use advanced performance analytics.

Beth Paretta, Vice President, Sporting at Formula E, says the collaboration reflects the series’ approach to using technology to support talent: “Formula E has always been a platform for innovation, and we are thrilled to partner with Google Cloud to push the boundaries of what’s possible when you combine world-class technology with world-class motorsport.”

For Formula E, this partnership continues its focus on innovation through cloud computing and AI. For Google Cloud, it offers a chance to show what AI models like Gemini can achieve in real-world performance scenarios.

The technology aligns with coaching methods used in other sports, where analytics has long been part of professional and amateur training.

By comparing individual driver metrics to established professional benchmarks, the system gives tailored feedback.

That includes how to adjust braking zones, improve acceleration or manage cornering – all key factors in reducing lap times and improving consistency.

Women in motorsport central to rollout

A major part of the rollout includes a collaboration with >= More than Equal, an organisation dedicated to increasing female participation in motorsport.

Google Cloud supports this through the Driver Development Programme, which backs five female drivers and gives them access to advanced simulators.

These simulators are based at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Institute of Sport and Centre of Excellence for Women in Sport. The use of Driver Agent within this programme aims to provide emerging drivers with coaching support usually reserved for top teams.

The goal is to create a merit-based development route that reflects ability, not access to funding or facilities. Driver Agent becomes a central tool in enabling this shift, ensuring that any driver can receive feedback traditionally reserved for the best-funded operations.

The partnership between Formula E and Google Cloud continues to focus on inclusion, performance data and digital transformation in sport. It shows how AI tools can support skills development in technical disciplines like racing.

Beth concludes: “By developing and offering these cutting-edge tools, we are helping to create a future where racing talent is determined by skill, not resources, enabling a more diverse pool of drivers and especially women, rise to the very top of our sport.”

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