Oracle extends AI-driven title deal with Red Bull Racing

Oracle and Oracle Red Bull Racing have agreed a multi-year extension and expansion of their title partnership as Formula 1 approaches a major regulatory change for the 2026 season.

The renewed deal keeps Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and Oracle AI central to the team's trackside and factory operations. This includes work on Red Bull Ford Powertrains' next-generation hybrid power unit and race-strategy modelling. The partnership also covers an AI-powered strategy agent that Oracle and the team plan to introduce trackside this season.

The announcement comes as F1 prepares for new technical rules in 2026 that will reshape how cars generate power, manage energy and deliver performance over a race distance. Teams and suppliers have been investing heavily in simulation, data processing and operational systems ahead of the new ruleset.

AI strategy

A key addition under the renewed partnership is an AI-powered strategy agent designed to support race engineers. It is intended to automate data collection, process historical and real-time race inputs, and surface insights during sessions.

The goal is faster responses to changing conditions such as shifting weather, safety car periods and evolving tyre performance. Race strategy has become increasingly data-led in recent seasons as cars and tyres operate within narrower performance windows.

F1 teams already run large numbers of simulations before and during race weekends, but the pace and volume of decision-making can create bottlenecks. The proposed agent reflects a broader trend in elite sport and industry: using machine learning to summarise data flows and flag anomalies.

Power unit work

The extended partnership also covers development of Red Bull Ford Powertrains' next-generation hybrid power unit, due to debut in 2026. Red Bull Ford Powertrains is new to building a complete power unit, competing with established manufacturers that have long-running engine programmes.

OCI is being used for engineering and testing, including large-scale simulation and validation, and will continue to support updates and integration work through the season.

The 2026 rules place greater emphasis on energy management and hybrid systems, increasing the importance of modelling and simulation during the design phase as teams pursue performance gains while meeting reliability targets.

Race simulations

Oracle Red Bull Racing expects the 2026 regulations to increase the complexity of race modelling. OCI will remain the platform for expanded simulations designed to reflect the new strategic environment.

These models cover energy usage, active aerodynamic configurations, deployment windows, tyre interactions and a wide range of race scenarios. The output supports both pre-event preparation and in-event decisions for strategists and drivers.

F1 has steadily increased its use of computational modelling as testing limits have tightened. Restrictions on wind tunnel time and other physical testing have increased reliance on simulation and data analysis across vehicle development and race operations.

Business systems

Beyond track performance, the deal also expands the use of Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications across finance, HR and marketing. Oracle Red Bull Racing plans to use the suite for planning and budgeting, payroll and employee processes.

The team also outlined fan-engagement initiatives, including personalised content, members-only rewards and a fan loyalty programme. Many teams have built direct-to-fan offerings alongside commercial partnerships, aiming for more predictable revenue streams and better audience data.

Laurent Mekies, CEO and Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing, linked the technology partnership to recent on-track results. "Since Oracle became the Team's title partner in 2022, the Team has delivered three Drivers' World Championships, two Constructors' World Championships, and broken many records," he said.

Clay Magouyrk, Oracle CEO, framed the partnership around rapid decision-making and broader enterprise relevance. "Oracle Red Bull Racing relies on Oracle Cloud and Oracle AI to achieve the highest levels of performance and solve some of the most complex, time-critical challenges in the world," he said.

The 2026 Formula 1 season begins in Melbourne on March 5, 2026.