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tif1 makes it easy to export F1 data to various formats for use in other tools, databases, or analysis platforms.

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Export to CSV

The simplest way to export data for use in Excel, Google Sheets, or other tools. 
import tif1

session = tif1.get_session(2025, "Monaco Grand Prix", "Race")
laps = session.laps

# Export all laps to CSV
laps.to_csv("monaco_race_laps.csv", index=False)

# Export specific driver's laps
ver = session.get_driver("VER")
ver.laps.to_csv("verstappen_laps.csv", index=False)

# Export telemetry
fastest_lap = ver.get_fastest_lap()
telemetry = ver.get_lap(fastest_lap["LapNumber"].iloc[0]).telemetry
telemetry.to_csv("verstappen_fastest_telemetry.csv", index=False)

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Export to Parquet

Parquet is a columnar storage format that’s much more efficient than CSV for large datasets. 
# Export to Parquet (works with both pandas and polars)
laps.to_parquet("monaco_race_laps.parquet")

# With compression
laps.to_parquet("monaco_race_laps.parquet", compression="snappy")

# Read back
import pandas as pd
laps_loaded = pd.read_parquet("monaco_race_laps.parquet")

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Export to JSON

For web applications or APIs. 
# Export to JSON
laps.to_json("monaco_race_laps.json", orient="records", indent=2)

# Compact format
laps.to_json("monaco_race_laps_compact.json", orient="records")

# Split format (better for large datasets)
laps.to_json("monaco_race_laps_split.json", orient="split")

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Export to Excel

Create Excel files with multiple sheets. 
# Single sheet
laps.to_excel("monaco_race.xlsx", sheet_name="Laps", index=False)

# Multiple sheets
with pd.ExcelWriter("monaco_race_full.xlsx") as writer:
    session.laps.to_excel(writer, sheet_name="Laps", index=False)
    session.weather.to_excel(writer, sheet_name="Weather", index=False)
    session.drivers_df.to_excel(writer, sheet_name="Drivers", index=False)
    session.race_control_messages.to_excel(writer, sheet_name="Messages", index=False)

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Export to SQL Database

Store data in a relational database for complex queries. 
import sqlite3
import pandas as pd

# Create database connection
conn = sqlite3.connect("f1_data.db")

# Export laps
laps.to_sql("laps", conn, if_exists="replace", index=False)

# Export telemetry for multiple drivers
for driver in ["VER", "HAM", "LEC"]:
    driver_obj = session.get_driver(driver)
    fastest = driver_obj.get_fastest_lap()
    tel = driver_obj.get_lap(fastest["LapNumber"].iloc[0]).telemetry
    tel.to_sql(f"telemetry_{driver}", conn, if_exists="replace", index=False)

conn.close()

# Query the data
conn = sqlite3.connect("f1_data.db")
query = """
SELECT Driver, MIN(LapTime) as FastestLap, AVG(LapTime) as AvgLap
FROM laps
WHERE LapTime IS NOT NULL
GROUP BY Driver
ORDER BY FastestLap
"""
results = pd.read_sql_query(query, conn)
print(results)
conn.close()

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Export to PostgreSQL

For production databases. 
from sqlalchemy import create_engine

# Create engine
engine = create_engine("postgresql://user:password@localhost:5432/f1_data")

# Export data
laps.to_sql("laps", engine, if_exists="replace", index=False)
session.weather.to_sql("weather", engine, if_exists="replace", index=False)

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Export for Machine Learning

Prepare data for ML frameworks.

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NumPy Arrays

import numpy as np

# Convert to numpy for scikit-learn, tensorflow, pytorch
lap_features = laps[["LapTime", "Sector1Time", "Sector2Time", "Sector3Time"]].to_numpy()

# Save as .npy file
np.save("lap_features.npy", lap_features)

# Telemetry as numpy
tel_array = telemetry[["Speed", "Throttle", "Brake", "RPM"]].to_numpy()
np.save("telemetry_features.npy", tel_array)

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HDF5 Format

Efficient for large numerical datasets. 
# Export to HDF5
laps.to_hdf("monaco_race.h5", key="laps", mode="w")
telemetry.to_hdf("monaco_race.h5", key="telemetry", mode="a")

# Read back
laps_loaded = pd.read_hdf("monaco_race.h5", key="laps")

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Export for Data Visualization Tools

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Tableau / Power BI

Export to formats these tools can read. 
# CSV with proper encoding
laps.to_csv("monaco_for_tableau.csv", index=False, encoding="utf-8-sig")

# Or use Hyper format for Tableau (requires tableauhyperapi)
# From tableauhyperapi import hyperprocess, connection, tabledefinition
# ... (see Tableau documentation)

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Plotly Dash / Streamlit

Export to JSON for web dashboards. 
# Export for web apps
data_for_web = {
    "laps": laps.to_dict(orient="records"),
    "drivers": session.drivers_df.to_dict(orient="records"),
    "weather": session.weather.to_dict(orient="records"),
}

import json
with open("monaco_data.json", "w") as f:
    json.dump(data_for_web, f, indent=2, default=str)

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Batch Export Multiple Sessions

Export an entire race weekend or season. 
import tif1

def export_weekend(year, gp, output_dir="data"):
    """Export all sessions from a race weekend."""
    import os
    os.makedirs(output_dir, exist_ok=True)

    sessions = tif1.get_sessions(year, gp)

    for session_name in sessions:
        try:
            session = tif1.get_session(year, gp, session_name)

            # Create safe filename
            safe_name = session_name.replace(" ", "_").lower()
            filename = f"{output_dir}/{year}_{gp.replace(' ', '_')}_{safe_name}.parquet"

            # Export laps
            session.laps.to_parquet(filename)
            print(f"Exported: {filename}")

        except Exception as e:
            print(f"Failed to export {session_name}: {e}")

# Export Monaco 2025 weekend
export_weekend(2025, "Monaco Grand Prix", "monaco_2025")

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Export Entire Season

def export_season(year, output_dir="season_data"):
    """Export all races from a season."""
    import os
    os.makedirs(output_dir, exist_ok=True)

    events = tif1.get_events(year)

    for event in events:
        print(f"Processing {event}...")
        sessions = tif1.get_sessions(year, event)

        for session_name in sessions:
            if session_name == "Race":  # Only export races
                try:
                    session = tif1.get_session(year, event, session_name)
                    safe_event = event.replace(" ", "_").replace("/", "_")
                    filename = f"{output_dir}/{year}_{safe_event}_race.parquet"
                    session.laps.to_parquet(filename)
                    print(f"  ✓ {event} Race")
                except Exception as e:
                    print(f"  ✗ {event} Race: {e}")

# Export 2024 season
export_season(2024, "2024_season")

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Working with Polars Backend

If using the polars backend, you get additional export options. 
session = tif1.get_session(2025, "Monaco Grand Prix", "Race", lib="polars")
laps = session.laps

# Polars-specific exports
laps.write_parquet("monaco_polars.parquet")
laps.write_csv("monaco_polars.csv")
laps.write_json("monaco_polars.json")
laps.write_ipc("monaco_polars.arrow")  # Apache Arrow format

# Convert to pandas if needed
laps_pandas = laps.to_pandas()

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Export Telemetry for All Drivers

Efficiently export telemetry for multiple drivers. 
def export_all_telemetry(session, lap_type="fastest", output_dir="telemetry"):
    """Export telemetry for all drivers."""
    import os
    os.makedirs(output_dir, exist_ok=True)

    if lap_type == "fastest":
        # Use parallel fetching for speed
        tels = session.get_fastest_laps_tels(by_driver=True)

        for driver, tel in tels.items():
            filename = f"{output_dir}/{driver}_fastest.parquet"
            tel.to_parquet(filename)
            print(f"Exported: {driver}")

    return len(tels)

session = tif1.get_session(2025, "Silverstone Grand Prix", "Qualifying")
count = export_all_telemetry(session)
print(f"Exported telemetry for {count} drivers")

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Best Practices

Use Parquet

Parquet is 5-10x smaller than CSV and much faster to read/write.

Batch Operations

Use async loading and batch exports for multiple sessions.

Compression

Enable compression for large datasets (snappy, gzip, zstd).

Type Preservation

Parquet and HDF5 preserve data types; CSV doesn’t.
For large-scale data pipelines, consider using the polars lib with Arrow/Parquet formats for maximum performance.

Examples

Export examples

Common Use Cases

Handle big data
Last modified on March 6, 2026