IBM and Ferrari bring AI race timelines to fan app

IBM and Scuderia Ferrari HP introduced new AI-assisted features in Ferrari’s mobile app on Oct. 22. The update adds an automated Race Timeline and expands post-session summaries ahead of the United States Grand Prix in Austin.

In a scrollable view, the Race Timeline shows pit stops, fastest laps, weather changes and Virtual Safety Car periods. Race Summaries, which previously focused on race recaps, now cover practice, sprint, qualifying and race-day sessions. IBM and Ferrari said each narrative would appear within minutes of a session ending.

For those summaries, IBM said watsonx-based AI agents turn race data and strategic input from Ferrari’s drivers and team principal into narratives. IBM’s partnership overview says watsonx.data manages and curates the underlying data before AI models process it. IBM identifies itself as the team’s official fan engagement and data analytics partner, while IBM Consulting works with Ferrari on the app.

The update also includes a Pitstop Reaction Game with a global leaderboard and a Tifosi Hub where fans can submit six-word stories for possible display by Ferrari.

IBM attributed higher app engagement after the May 2025 relaunch to its internal first-year measurements. According to the company, cumulative downloads rose 35%, average monthly active users increased 36%, and engaged sessions climbed 35%. The release did not provide denominators, collection methods or an independent audit for those figures.

The company also said more than 70 reusable AI skills and more than 30 agents, delivered through IBM Bob and IBM Consulting Advantage, increased productivity across the app’s product-development lifecycle by 30%. IBM said the result was measured during the Monza and Madrid Grands Prix, but did not disclose how it defined the productivity measure or provide an independent audit.

At the May 2025 app relaunch, IBM and Ferrari already offered watsonx-generated post-race summaries based on team race data and reflections from drivers and the team principal. The October update extends the summaries to every session and shortens the stated delivery time to minutes.

Apple’s app listing identifies Ferrari as the developer and showed version 2.10.0 as released two days before the listing was checked on Oct. 24. Its release notes referred only to bug fixes and feature enhancements; they did not name the Race Timeline or expanded Race Summaries.