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Autosport.com said:
Todt says new ECU benefits McLaren
McLaren are at a clear advantage this year because they built the electronic system which all Formula One teams must now use, Ferrari chief executive Jean Todt said on Monday.
The SECU (Standard Electronic Control Unit) produced by McLaren Electronic Systems is a major development for the new season, which starts on March 16 in Melbourne.
"We would have preferred that the single control unit for all Formula One teams was built by another company. We must accept the fact that McLaren with Microsoft put forward the most economic proposal," Todt told reporters.
"It is clear it is a situation to monitor. But it is obvious that, at least at the start, McLaren will have an advantage in the championship," added the Frenchman, who has handed the reins of the racing team to Stefano Domenicali while he remains boss of the company.
The rivalry between the two teams was extremely heated in 2007 with the Italian outfit becoming constructors champions after McLaren were stripped of all their points for a spying scandal involving sensitive Ferrari information.
Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen also beat McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso to the driver's title by one point. Alonso has since returned to Renault.
The new Ferrari F2008 car was given its first run out by Raikkonen at the team's Maranello base on Monday with the Finn managing 20 odd laps without any problems.
The track was slightly damp and provided an early challenge for Raikkonen given Formula One cars have no traction control this season.
What Toad probably meant to say (allegedly)...McLaren are at a clear advantage this year because they built the electronic system which all Formula One teams must now use, Ferrari chief executive Jean Todt said on Monday.
The SECU (Standard Electronic Control Unit) produced by McLaren Electronic Systems is a major development for the new season, which starts on March 16 in Melbourne.
"We would have preferred that the single control unit for all Formula One teams was built by another company. We must accept the fact that McLaren with Microsoft put forward the most economic proposal," Todt told reporters.
"It is clear it is a situation to monitor. But it is obvious that, at least at the start, McLaren will have an advantage in the championship," added the Frenchman, who has handed the reins of the racing team to Stefano Domenicali while he remains boss of the company.
The rivalry between the two teams was extremely heated in 2007 with the Italian outfit becoming constructors champions after McLaren were stripped of all their points for a spying scandal involving sensitive Ferrari information.
Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen also beat McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso to the driver's title by one point. Alonso has since returned to Renault.
The new Ferrari F2008 car was given its first run out by Raikkonen at the team's Maranello base on Monday with the Finn managing 20 odd laps without any problems.
The track was slightly damp and provided an early challenge for Raikkonen given Formula One cars have no traction control this season.
"We would have preferred that the single control unit for all Formula One teams was built by Ferrari. That way we could allow ourselves TC and LC and disable it for everyone else. Still, at least every time they beat us on the track we can go running to the FIA to get their ECU investigated..."
Scuffers said:
that's just so lame......
why can't they just get on with the job in hand and stop throwing rocks?
Because he's a moaning little French twhy can't they just get on with the job in hand and stop throwing rocks?
t. I sincerely hope McLaren/Microsoft have developed a special ECU for Ferrari...that runs on Windows ME and throws a Blue Screen every 10 minutes.
Edited by MonkeyHanger on Monday 7th January 23:05
NEWSFLASH!
Kimi Raikkonen was forced to retire during Sunday's British Grand Prix, after his engine control unit (ECU) switched off the engine when the Finn mistakenly pressed the upshift button while in seventh gear. His Ferrari careened off the track in a wild spin as he approached nearly 180 miles per hour along the pit straight at the historic Silverstone circuit.
Although he suffered only minor injuries, the driver dubbed "iceman" for his ultra-calm demeanour was far from calm when approached by journalists while walking to the circuit's medical facility.
"It's shit", was the cool reply when asked what his opinion of this year's new ECU was.
Meanwhile a spokesman from Microsoft, who produces the ECU in partnership with McLaren, assured the media and the motorsport's governing body, the FIA, that it will fully investigate the problem.
"Our experts are working closely in partnership with McLaren to investigate and fix whatever caused the incident today. Unfortunately, complex electronics and software systems can have flaws. Our focus now is to eliminate the problem before it becomes an issue again", the spokeman said.
Ferrari's management is not impressed by these assurances.
The Ferrari F1 team principal vented his fury during the post-race press conference. "We are seriously concerned that the ECUs delivered to our team were not of the same quality as those delivered to other teams. We will appeal to the FIA for an independent inquiry to solve this issue. McLaren should never have become involved in supplying ECUs for Formula One. The package proposed by the independent and unbiased team at Ferrari would have served much better. Certainly Ferrari's package would not have contained such ridiculous flaws as the one which caused Kimi's crash today."
Kimi Raikkonen was forced to retire during Sunday's British Grand Prix, after his engine control unit (ECU) switched off the engine when the Finn mistakenly pressed the upshift button while in seventh gear. His Ferrari careened off the track in a wild spin as he approached nearly 180 miles per hour along the pit straight at the historic Silverstone circuit.
Although he suffered only minor injuries, the driver dubbed "iceman" for his ultra-calm demeanour was far from calm when approached by journalists while walking to the circuit's medical facility.
"It's shit", was the cool reply when asked what his opinion of this year's new ECU was.
Meanwhile a spokesman from Microsoft, who produces the ECU in partnership with McLaren, assured the media and the motorsport's governing body, the FIA, that it will fully investigate the problem.
"Our experts are working closely in partnership with McLaren to investigate and fix whatever caused the incident today. Unfortunately, complex electronics and software systems can have flaws. Our focus now is to eliminate the problem before it becomes an issue again", the spokeman said.
Ferrari's management is not impressed by these assurances.
The Ferrari F1 team principal vented his fury during the post-race press conference. "We are seriously concerned that the ECUs delivered to our team were not of the same quality as those delivered to other teams. We will appeal to the FIA for an independent inquiry to solve this issue. McLaren should never have become involved in supplying ECUs for Formula One. The package proposed by the independent and unbiased team at Ferrari would have served much better. Certainly Ferrari's package would not have contained such ridiculous flaws as the one which caused Kimi's crash today."
Jungles said:
NEWSFLASH!
Kimi Raikkonen was forced to retire during Sunday's British Grand Prix, after his engine control unit (ECU) switched off the engine when the Finn mistakenly pressed the upshift button while in seventh gear. His Ferrari careened off the track in a wild spin as he approached nearly 180 miles per hour along the pit straight at the historic Silverstone circuit.
Although he suffered only minor injuries, the driver dubbed "iceman" for his ultra-calm demeanour was far from calm when approached by journalists while walking to the circuit's medical facility.
"It's shit", was the cool reply when asked what his opinion of this year's new ECU was.
Meanwhile a spokesman from Microsoft, who produces the ECU in partnership with McLaren, assured the media and the motorsport's governing body, the FIA, that it will fully investigate the problem.
"Our experts are working closely in partnership with McLaren to investigate and fix whatever caused the incident today. Unfortunately, complex electronics and software systems can have flaws. Our focus now is to eliminate the problem before it becomes an issue again", the spokeman said.
Ferrari's management is not impressed by these assurances.
The Ferrari F1 team principal vented his fury during the post-race press conference. "We are seriously concerned that the ECUs delivered to our team were not of the same quality as those delivered to other teams. We will appeal to the FIA for an independent inquiry to solve this issue. McLaren should never have become involved in supplying ECUs for Formula One. The package proposed by the independent and unbiased team at Ferrari would have served much better. Certainly Ferrari's package would not have contained such ridiculous flaws as the one which caused Kimi's crash today."
Has the "Worlds favourite" motorsport become so predictable? Kimi Raikkonen was forced to retire during Sunday's British Grand Prix, after his engine control unit (ECU) switched off the engine when the Finn mistakenly pressed the upshift button while in seventh gear. His Ferrari careened off the track in a wild spin as he approached nearly 180 miles per hour along the pit straight at the historic Silverstone circuit.
Although he suffered only minor injuries, the driver dubbed "iceman" for his ultra-calm demeanour was far from calm when approached by journalists while walking to the circuit's medical facility.
"It's shit", was the cool reply when asked what his opinion of this year's new ECU was.
Meanwhile a spokesman from Microsoft, who produces the ECU in partnership with McLaren, assured the media and the motorsport's governing body, the FIA, that it will fully investigate the problem.
"Our experts are working closely in partnership with McLaren to investigate and fix whatever caused the incident today. Unfortunately, complex electronics and software systems can have flaws. Our focus now is to eliminate the problem before it becomes an issue again", the spokeman said.
Ferrari's management is not impressed by these assurances.
The Ferrari F1 team principal vented his fury during the post-race press conference. "We are seriously concerned that the ECUs delivered to our team were not of the same quality as those delivered to other teams. We will appeal to the FIA for an independent inquiry to solve this issue. McLaren should never have become involved in supplying ECUs for Formula One. The package proposed by the independent and unbiased team at Ferrari would have served much better. Certainly Ferrari's package would not have contained such ridiculous flaws as the one which caused Kimi's crash today."
Obviously Yes!
Thats pretty damned funny. Ron Dennis must have been in fits watching that press conference.
On a more serious note, I would not want microsoft to go anywhere near an ECU, were I an F1 driver.
They should have asked google, we'd probably be able to watch the f1 races for free via google-earth by now
On a more serious note, I would not want microsoft to go anywhere near an ECU, were I an F1 driver.
They should have asked google, we'd probably be able to watch the f1 races for free via google-earth by now
Teppic said:
Still, at least every time they beat us on the track we can go running to the FIA to get their ECU investigated..."
So you believe McLaren have no advantage? Yahoo said:
BMW unhappy with standard ECU
Following up on Renault's complaint, meanwhile, chief designer Tim Densham suggests that McLaren is the only team in the paddock that does not need to commit vast resources to adapting to the new standard ECU.
"Let's just say that for me this ECU has a very strange shape, a triangular one, so it was clearly designed for a specific car last season," he said.
"It's the same thing for the power box that goes with it. The position and the angle of the connectors are proof of a bespoke design for another car," he added.
Following up on Renault's complaint, meanwhile, chief designer Tim Densham suggests that McLaren is the only team in the paddock that does not need to commit vast resources to adapting to the new standard ECU.
"Let's just say that for me this ECU has a very strange shape, a triangular one, so it was clearly designed for a specific car last season," he said.
"It's the same thing for the power box that goes with it. The position and the angle of the connectors are proof of a bespoke design for another car," he added.
It's been common knowledge for quite some time, if anyone was unhappy they should have said so then. Fact is a few teams are trying to score cheap points and all this does is give us all another pathetic argument over nothing.
Perhaps F1 needs a manufacturer ban because they are killing the sport.
Perhaps F1 needs a manufacturer ban because they are killing the sport.
It doesn't matter which way you look at it, if one of the teams on the grid is the manufacturer of a key component that everyone else is forced to use then it's hardly a level playing field. McLaren have an advantage. The job should have ben given to a completely independent third-party.
If you had a business that stood to make or lose millions based on such a vital piece of equipment would you honestly be happy that it was made by your biggest competitor?
And without even mentioning the fact that I would have vetoed the involvement of Microsoft software as soon as I heard about it.
If you had a business that stood to make or lose millions based on such a vital piece of equipment would you honestly be happy that it was made by your biggest competitor?
And without even mentioning the fact that I would have vetoed the involvement of Microsoft software as soon as I heard about it.
Edited by Strangely Brown on Thursday 10th January 19:40
Strangely Brown said:
It doesn't matter which way you look at it, if one of the teams on the grid is the manufacturer of a key component that everyone else is forced to use then it's hardly a level playing field. McLaren have an advantage. The job should have ben given to a completely independent third-party.
If you had a business that stood to make or lose millions based on such a vital piece of equipment would you honestly be happy that it was made by your biggest competitor?
And without even mentioning the fact that I would have vetoed the involvement of Microsoft software as soon as I heard about it.
'Williams' technical director Sam Michael agrees that McLaren will have a 'small' advantage going into 2008.If you had a business that stood to make or lose millions based on such a vital piece of equipment would you honestly be happy that it was made by your biggest competitor?
And without even mentioning the fact that I would have vetoed the involvement of Microsoft software as soon as I heard about it.
"They don't have to do all the work that the other teams are doing at the moment," he told ITV.
But the Australian concedes that actually implementing and using the McLaren ECU has so far been 'painless' for the Oxfordshire based team.
"There have been some issues, it's not perfect, but it's pretty good to be honest," he explained.
"I think within a couple of months you won't even know it's on there."'
Is it true that the ECU's all have WiFi access points built in, with a copy of Norton Ghost running on it, which then backs up all of it's settings to the backup server running in Garages 22/23....
Admin username : stepney
Admin password : *******
And yes, all steering wheels will be fitted with three extra buttons - ctrl, alt, and del.
The system will also be integrated into the new FIA ejector seat, and Microsoft have declared that there are absolutely no bugs in this software, it'll never deploy on it's own. "It's solid software, very stable, just like Windows 98SE" a MS spokesman said.
Before the race start, drivers will have to enter the licence key to get the car to move. The key can be found on the underside of the ECU. Should any part of the hardware change (wheels, etc.), the system key will change, and you will need a new licence key. This will be obtained by dialling your local Microsoft Support Office (in Mumbai) who will be pleased read a script on the screen that has no relation to the problem that you may, or may not, have.
Admin username : stepney
Admin password : *******
And yes, all steering wheels will be fitted with three extra buttons - ctrl, alt, and del.
The system will also be integrated into the new FIA ejector seat, and Microsoft have declared that there are absolutely no bugs in this software, it'll never deploy on it's own. "It's solid software, very stable, just like Windows 98SE" a MS spokesman said.
Before the race start, drivers will have to enter the licence key to get the car to move. The key can be found on the underside of the ECU. Should any part of the hardware change (wheels, etc.), the system key will change, and you will need a new licence key. This will be obtained by dialling your local Microsoft Support Office (in Mumbai) who will be pleased read a script on the screen that has no relation to the problem that you may, or may not, have.
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