Tata Communications and Formula 1 conducted a test of truly live 360º video at the 2017 Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix to show how the F1 racing experience could be augmented for fans worldwide by enabling them to experience the action in and around the circuit almost as if they were there.

To date, any 360º video experiments in sports have been hampered by a 30-second delay between the 360º video and live TV feeds, preventing a widespread adoption of the technology. This proof-of-concept by Tata Communications and Formula 1 is the first time the live 360º video feeds and TV broadcast have been shown in complete sync.

There were two 360º cameras at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore, trackside and in the paddock, to show how viewers at home could immerse themselves in the world of F1 and experience these exclusive areas through a virtual reality (VR)-like environment via the Official F1 App. For example, during a Grand Prix build-up, fans could use their tablet to access a live 360º video feed from the paddock and see the biggest names in the sport. Or, during a race, as a driver pulls into the pits for a tyre change, fans could complement the action on TV with a 360º view of everything that is happening in the pit lane in real-time.

“We’ve done this test to show how a fan could watch Lewis, Sebastian or any other drivers coming into the pits on TV, grab their tablet and get a second, completely in sync 360º view of everything going on around him while he is there - not 30 seconds after he has driven off!” said John Morrison, Chief Technical Officer, Formula 1. “In a sport like F1 where every millisecond matters, there are huge opportunities to empower fans to take control of key Grand Prix moments and create their unique, personalised race experiences through the powerful combination of live TV and 360º video.”