Prototyping in motorsports: exploring manufacturer-supplier collaboration in Formula One

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Abstract:

Formula One is at the forefront of technological advances in the automotive and motorsport industries. The sport serves as a testing ground for cutting-edge technologies that often find their way into mainstream automotive applications. The development process is accompanied by pressure to innovate, regulatory constraints, and time and cost constraints. In this context, prototyping plays a special role in accelerating development success. This study explores the complex interplay between OEMs and suppliers and the dynamics in the prototyping process between OEMs and suppliers in the F1 supply chain using a case study approach based on archival data and an online survey. The aim is to learn from the unique interplay of requirements and pressure to succeed in order to optimise prototyping processes beyond F1. Using the 2022 season racing teams as an example, the complex supplier relationships and regulatory influences on development are explored. The factors that contribute to successful collaboration and those that hinder progress are highlighted. The results offer practical implications for OEMs and suppliers outside of Formula One on how to use the prototyping phase as a catalyst for successful product development. Copyright © The Author(s) 2024. Published by Inderscience Publishers Ltd.