KAUST at the 2019 Bahrain Grand Prix

The race weekend is the culmination of months and years of rigorous design and testing that utilized some of the best minds in engineering, science and technology. Race events feature 10 teams comprised of two highly skilled teammates (and sometimes in-house rivals) racing their cars over a set lap-time structure.

As part of the recent five-year research and development (R&D) partnership agreement between KAUST and McLaren Racing Limited, a group of the University's Clean Combustion Research Center (CCRC), Extreme Computing Research Center (ECRC) and Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Science & Engineering (CEMSE) division students and research scientists attended the 2019 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix (GP) from March 29 to 31.

The KAUST group, which included five Ph.D. students—Gustav Nyrenstedt (CCRC); Altynay Kaidarova (CEMSE); Diego Rojas Blanco (ECRC); Kiran Yalamanchi (CCRC); and Vijai Shankar Bhavani Shankar (CCRC)—joined members from McLaren at the Bahrain International Circuit to see the results of the nascent partnership.

KAUST Ph.D. students are pictured here at the Bahrain International Circuit in March attending the 2019 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix. File photo.

Gustav Nyrenstedt:

I did not have to think twice when I was asked to come visit the McLaren Formula 1 team at the 2019 Bahrain GP. Of course, it was an excellent opportunity to see our center's research being tested in one of the most demanding environments on Earth. As an engine researcher, I realized how complex collaborative research is and how much we have to think about when applying fundamental research in the real world of F1 racing. Fuels, efficiency and cooling systems are just some of the things that [make] the difference between a place on the podium and the driver risking his life in the next turn. 

Being at the Bahrain GP taught me what it means to be consistent and committed in everything you do by simply looking at the team's preparations before the race. Seeing McLaren driver Carlos Sainz sitting next to you just hours before the race, relaxed but extremely focused, taught me how I need to be to reach the top. Then I look[ed] left and [saw] veteran McLaren driver Fernando Alonso, and to my right I [saw] David Beckham, showing how huge [the] event actually [was]. In my more difficult days, I will think of this experience and suddenly smile again. This is the [kind of] opportunity that life at KAUST brings.

KAUST Ph.D. student Altynay Kaidarova (pictured here) and the KAUST team discussed future research directions in the KAUST/McLaren partnership with McLaren representatives during the recent Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix. File photo.

Altynay Kaidarova:

The friendly environment [and] collaborative and united spirit [were] felt throughout our stay with the McLaren team. We had opportunities to observe the team's preparation process before the Grand Prix and [their] carefully planned practice sessions on the pit lane. The hard work of the McLaren team was [also seen] in their highly organized and well-equipped garage. Through the headphones and multiple display screens, we could listen to the conversation [between] McLaren headquarters in the United Kingdom, the operational team in Bahrain and two drivers in the specially designed room.

McLaren partnerships manager Katie Neck emphasized the importance of collaborations with institutes such as KAUST for further car improvements. In particular, we discussed the usage of sensory technology in F1 and the importance of telemetry data. We have continued this conversation with Stephen Watt, the head of electronics at McLaren, who is interested in applying our airflow sensor technology for analysis of the aerodynamic performance of the car, as well as [using the] packaging and environmental capabilities of the sensors that we are developing at KAUST.

KAUST Ph.D. students Diego Rojas Blanco (left) and Altynay Kaidarova (right) stand in front of a McLaren car at the recent Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix. File photo.

Diego Rojas Blanco:

Technology drives [F1], and we could see firsthand the race that happen[s] behind the pit lane. This is a race of mechanics, technicians and engineers capturing and analyzing data, strategizing and making decisions [and] working against the clock to achieve the best performance in qualifying and on race day. This part was particularly humbling to me as one of the students working in collaboration with McLaren—seeing their operation in person puts our contribution in context and seeing the hardworking people at the track [emphasizes] the responsibility we have with them.

I am part of the team working on the aerodynamics of the front of the car. As such, I could not pass [up] the opportunity to take some detailed pictures of the front wings and share them with my colleagues. Being computational scientists [and] having the privilege to engage in a scientific discussion while seeing the real physical system we are analyzing was an exceptional opportunity.

Beyond the technical details, [the] experience gave us another perspective into the research we are doing and the role it plays in the bigger picture for the McLaren team and the sport in general. Our contribution to their team is a big challenge, but we steadfastly believe our experience—combined with the exceptional facilities at KAUST—will deliver an edge to the McLaren team in the coming seasons.

KAUST visitors to the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix in March noted they hope the KAUST/McLaren collaboration will provide a cutting edge to McLaren's research. File photo.

Future collaborations

"A major challenge in academia is to realize how fundamental research can be translated into real-world applications," said Mani Sarathy, associate director of the University's Clean Combustion Research Center. "[The KAUST/McLaren] partnership enables KAUST's brilliant students to work with McLaren's world-class engineers to experience how research moves from the lab to the track. By attending an adrenaline-pumping F1 race, our students get inspired to push the boundaries of their research. Similarly, when McLaren engineers visit KAUST, they get inspired to think deeply on how to bring new discoveries to F1 motorsport."

Mani Sarathy (center), associate director of the University's Clean Combustion Research Center, is pictured here with McLaren executives and a McLaren car. He stated that the KAUST/McLaren partnership gives students the experience of moving research 'from the lab to the track.' File photo. 

Kaidarova aptly summed up the potential for the partnership, stating: "I believe that this experience has undoubtedly united and aspired KAUST and McLaren to move forward together as one team. It has shown the real [and] positive impact made through our fruitful collaboration with McLaren and the state-of-the-art facilities and researchers [at] KAUST."

Related stories:

• KAUST partners with McLaren Racing on R&D
• Pushing the limits of science on the track
• A race against time