Unlocking performance

How the science of light keeps the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS MF1 Team in the fast lane

Sharper reflexes, faster recovery

Many of us have felt the effects of jet lag –tiredness at the wrong time, struggling to sleep when needed. Light is an important element in regulating our circadian rhythm—the body’s internal clock that determines when we feel awake, alert, or tired. Blue and cyan-rich light enhance wakefulness during the day, while reduced exposure at night supports sleep. The right lighting at the right time is one way that team members can sharpen performance, focus, and recovery.

As the official lighting partner of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, Signify delivers cutting-edge lighting solutions on and off the track. At the team’s UK headquarters, Signify’s NatureConnect technology mimics natural daylight cycles in windowless areas, keeping engineers focused during long simulator sessions. On the road, portable travel lamps help regulate circadian rhythms, helping drivers and engineers adjust light levels, controlling their exposure to stimulating blue light. As part of the scientifically designed jet lag plan, developed with the team doctor, light exposure is managed precisely to aid sleep, speed up recovery, and optimize cognitive function.

High-performance lighting for everyday life

The intensity of the Formula 1 schedule is unmatched, but the science behind lighting for performance benefits everyone. Business travelers, office workers, and students all face circadian disruption from flights, artificial lighting, or suboptimal environments. In all these areas, the right lighting can make all the difference.

Imagine stepping into a hotel room that adapts the color temperature and intensity of the lighting to support your circadian rhythm and help you overcome jet lag, or working in an office designed to keep you alert and engaged by simulating hour-by-hour changes in natural daylight. These aren’t future concepts—they are proven applications that are already transforming performance and well-being in business, medical, and sports settings.

For the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, every race weekend is a test of endurance, adaptability, and precision. From the moment the team lands in a new time zone, lighting helps them recalibrate, recover, and be race ready. The same principles that keep an F1 driver sharp after a 12-hour flight can help a business traveler prepare for a critical meeting or a student maintain focus.

In a sport where milliseconds matter, every detail must be optimized. For the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, light is an integral part of the performance strategy that enables drivers, engineers, and support crews to arrive ready to deliver at the highest level. For ten months of the year, the F1 calendar never slows down—and with the right light, neither does the team.