Sky Sports and Audi launch 'Flying Lap' series blending real laps with F1 simulator tech
Sky Sports and Audi launch 'Flying Lap' series blending real laps with F1 simulator tech
Sky Sports and their official Innovation partner Audi have launched a new series that fuses real-world driving with the German manufacturer's cutting-edge R26 simulation technology, delivering a storytelling experience from the race track never seen before.
At the heart of Flying Lap is Audi's simulation technology, placing the brand directly into the narrative of performance. By integrating Audi Sim data with Sky Sports' world-class production, the series brings fans closer than ever to the technical and physical demands of the circuit.
Fronted by Sky Sports pundit and former Formula 1 driver Karun Chandhok, each episode sees the driver take to an iconic track in a high-performance Audi road car, delivering a full-throttle lap guide enriched with immersive data visualisation.
What happens in each episode
As they navigate the circuit, viewers are guided through key sections of the track inside the high-performance all-new Audi RS5, with highlighted hotspots. At pivotal moments, the experience shifts seamlessly into a fully rendered virtual environment — where an Audi R26 F1 car screams to life.
Within this graphical world, Audi's simulation data is used to break down the intricacies of elite performance, from braking zones and racing lines to gear changes, cornering speeds, and overtaking opportunities. The camera moves dynamically around the virtual car — from exterior angles to the driver's cockpit — offering perspectives never possible before.
The format then transitions back to real-world driving, maintaining continuity as the Sky Sports driver progresses through the lap, creating a seamless fusion of physical and digital storytelling.
The tracks featured
The first Flying Lap episode took on Miami, one of the fastest and most technically demanding circuits on the calendar, while the second headed to the iconic Silverstone in Great Britain. The third featured motorsport's Temple of Speed — Monza in Italy — with the fourth taking in the high-speed sweeps of one of the sport's best newer tracks, the Circuit of the Americas in Austin.
A new chapter for the partnership
Launched across Sky Sports platforms from May 2026, Flying Lap represents the next evolution of the Sky Sports and Audi Innovation partnership — pushing the boundaries of broadcast innovation and creating new opportunities for storytelling beyond live coverage.