Zscaler Blog Get the latest Zscaler blog updates in your inbox Why Do F1 Teams Need Cybersecurity, and How Is AI Changing the Threat Landscape? An F1 car doesn’t just burn fuel, it burns data. Across a race weekend, hundreds of onboard sensors generate hundreds of gigabytes of telemetry, and that stream moves constantly, from car to garage, garage to trackside systems, trackside to factory, factory back to the pit wall. The competitive edge lives inside those packets, which is why rivals, criminal groups, and even nation-state actors all have reasons to want in. The story here isn’t “sports security”, it’s modern enterprise security with a stopwatch. F1 runs one of the most exposed data environments in professional sports What is actually at risk Once you picture F1 as a traveling engineering lab, the risk becomes obvious. Modern teams operate on live feedback loops: measure, decide, adjust, repeat. Telemetry isn’t “nice to have”, it’s the blueprint of the car while it’s still being drawn. Teams protect: - Live telemetry streams that reflect aerodynamic configuration, tire strategy signals, engine tuning trends, and even driver biometrics transmitted from car to trackside systems and back to the factory in near real time. - Proprietary software and analytics that turn raw sensor output into decisions, e.g., setup recommendations, race simulations, and reliability predictions. - Business data on the same rails: sponsor financials, contract information, internal planning, and operational documents that travel with the team. - Global operational sprawl: teams compete across 20+ countries in a season. Each venue introduces new networks, new physical access opportunities, and new jurisdictions, meaning the threat profile shifts every few weeks. The crown jewels aren't a single database. They're the services, identities, and workflows that move data through the system. That's where attackers focus. Why third-party access makes it