Single ECU supplier in F1

[LongQ]

Seems the engine manufacturers have signed up for a future which will dictate the ECU they use - 'to save money'.

Strange thing to do really, though with so many shared angines and platforms on the roads these days they may be used to it all.

So, single tyre supplier. Single ECU supplier. So far.

Why not single engine supplier? Even bigger savings with economy of scale.

And single chassis supplier. And Gearbox. And Aero developer.

All cars to be red.

Proposal to eliminate the danger to drivers by eliminating the drivers (also large cost savings for some) by automatic control systems.

Well, it could work. If they were to lift the package formula from GP2 we might get some good racing again.

Or maybe just forget F1 and watch the 'lesser' categories?

[peanutjb]

LongQ said:

Or maybe just forget F1 and watch the 'lesser' categories?

Sums up everything I hate about all the proposed new regulations. They're destroying F1. The whole point is that its the peak of motorsport technology, its not a single make series.

They should be encouraged to innovate and push the boundaries. If it gets dangerous, then I can understand pegging it back a bit, but then they'll find progress somewhere else. Its what its all about. I wish they'd stop trying to make it cheaper!

[LongQ]

peanutjb said:

I wish they'd stop trying to make it cheaper!

I agree with all that you said, though I think the problems of cost became much greater when the manufacturers moved in en masse.

There seem to be so many subsidiary parts of F1 that also require enormous and ever growing budgets - all the trucks and motorhomes and the entertainment circus for example. How much did the Red Bull thing cost? Was it several million?

And most teams have a number of transporters which also probably come in at a million or so each, fully kitted.

Of course one way to reduce the costs would be to make it less global and thereby reduce the need to flying away to so many races. But then if you do that you reduce Bernie's options for chasing the funds and Max's options for acquiring worldwide power.

And of course the manufacturers are probably happier in a global market than something that is pretty much Europe centric.

Which all leads to me asking the question - why do they go on about wanting to cut the costs?

If those involved can't afford it, pull out. There seem to be plenty in line trying to get in.

>> Edited by LongQ on Sunday 28th May 03:27

[Jungles]

I'm for a single ECU manufacturer. Multiple ECU manufacturers are not necessary, and a single ECU maker might help to enforce parity by the FIA. One example of such enforcement would be if they are to reinstate the No Traction-Control rule. It was abandoned due to potential cheating by manufacturers modifying the ECUs to modulate power, so a more tightly regulated ECU could help to enforce such rules if they are reinstated.

[topwelshman]

peanutjb said:

LongQ said: Or maybe just forget F1 and watch the 'lesser' categories? Sums up everything I hate about all the proposed new regulations. They're destroying F1. The whole point is that its the peak of motorsport technology, its not a single make series. They should be encouraged to innovate and push the boundaries. If it gets dangerous, then I can understand pegging it back a bit, but then they'll find progress somewhere else. Its what its all about. I wish they'd stop trying to make it cheaper!

But it's awfully boring isn't it, this season so far has been worse than watching paint dry. The gulf between the teams at the back and the teams at the front is huge in terms of money and pace, 22 sec lead after 2 laps makes very poor viewing.

In my view they standard ECU's, tyres, is a good thing and I think they should go further and place a limit on downforce and make the engines last even longer, say 4 races, then we would see the smaller teams getting closer to the front and those teams at the front being closer to each other