F1's Dean Locke on Getting Closer to the Action With Drones, New Camera Angles and More Team Radio

F1's Dean Locke on getting closer to the action with drones, new camera angles and more team radio By George Bevir

Friday, May 16, 2025 - 10:43

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Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri race LEGO cars on the drivers parade during the F1 Grand Prix of Miami in May (Photo by Glenn Dunbar/Getty Images for LEGO Group)

Formula 1's broadcast operation continues to evolve, with efforts to provide new perspectives and insights to immerse viewers in the action via drones, more car-mounted cameras and efforts to deliver even more team radio audio.

While helicopters remain central to aerial coverage, drones are now being used selectively to enhance F1's visual storytelling with drones used for aerial shots and analytical footage that helicopters can't provide. The emphasis is on adding new perspectives, not replacing existing systems like helicopters.

Internal drone systems are being developed for flexibility and easier compliance, explains Formula 1 executive director TV production Dean Locke.

Sometimes it is easier for us to meet regulations with our own internal systems because they're all pre-approved.

We've taken a slightly different stance by doing quite a bit of it internally and actually operating our own systems we've tested various RF systems and 5G systems, utilising local knowledge as well.

We're looking at different shots, not replacing the helicopter we got some really good results in Bahrain testing on some really interesting analysis packages around a corner where the drone just hovered above it and just took a snapshot of seven, eight cars.

The focus has been on using drones for dynamic shots in slower sections or for wide angles, with high, wide and revealing shots that sometimes helicopters aren't able to get.

For Formula 1 there are significant safety considerations due to large crowds, plus licensing and insurance regulations vary across regions. That means choosing locations where drone deployment is safest and most effective.

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The cars are so quick we also have over 460,000 people at some of these events so safety, licensing, and insurance can all change quite a lot from region to region. It can be a huge amount of work getting the permissions. Sometimes it is easier for us to meet regulations with our own internal systems because they're all pre-approved.

In total, about 10 races have been targeted for drone usage this season with Locke highlighting specific tracks like Bahrain, Miami and Budapest that have proven ideal for deployment.

Rolling out Rear Impact Structure cameras

Another area of innovation is onboard camera technology. Rear Impact Structure (RIST) cameras, introduced in limited use last season, are being refined for wider deployment.

We rolled out the RIST camera last year, says Locke. It was really well received by the audience, but we could only do that on a couple of teams because that area is very bespoke to each car and it's a fairly harsh environment to have a camera system on the rear end of a Formula 1 car, with fumes, dirt, other cars, speed, and everything else.

Our gyroscopic cameras as well are very telling on the undulations of circuits which can be difficult for us to show sometimes on the big broadcast cameras, so we're rolling out more of those.

We are hoping to get more angles off the car; we're trying to get our 360-degree camera live off the car. It's more of a 2026 development but we may look at doing more testing in 2025.

Team radio

The inclusion of team radio snippets in live broadcasts has become an essential tool for viewers seeking insight into team strategies and drivers' emotions. In such a fast-paced sport, the ability to quickly capture, assess, and share multiple clips is critical to telling the complete story of a race.

It is a remarkable editorial tool that we're so lucky to be able to bring to the fans; sometimes it's the only way to understand a story, says Locke. But, to be to make it as genuine as possible, we really need to be delivering as much content as we can.

You can go for periods where not much is being really talked about, and then all the drivers and all the teams are talking at the same time, particularly around safety cars and pit stop windows, which makes it incredibly difficult to portray their stories.

Custom hardware and software help editors manage these chaotic moments. Transcription tools and AI support real-time interpretation, with the current focus on delivering radio in context.

There can be pinch points so we've looked at that as a resource, whether it's another couple of extra systems or extra listeners to make sure we're getting it when it all comes in, or how we're using transcription tools, so we're able to see exactly and reference what is being said and how we're going to deliver that.

The 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, Italy takes place Sunday May 18

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