How F1’s helicopter footage was brought to a higher level

First free practice of the French Grand Prix has just ended when we get invited to Paul Ricard’s airport. The man we’re meeting is Belgian Lieven Hermans, who started working as an aerial camera operator for Formula 1 in 2007.

In one of the hangars sits a helicopter with an impressive camera system mounted underneath. Next to the pilot seat, the other front seat inside the cockpit has been modified to accommodate a large controller containing a joystick and a…