Traction/torque control

[raymondu999]

Hey all. This is an old topic, but yeah. Remember torque control? That McLaren had? I was wondering, actually. What bans are in place to stop teams from using this again? Or am I wrong and they are still using it? It's basically changing engine maps right? And they could do that from other buttons on the wheel, no?

[Richard]

The ECU software is now standardised by the FIA. Any team with traction control would have to hide an extra box of electronics on the car.

Why pick on McL? Many of the teams had traction and/or launch control. Most famous was Schumacher's "option 13" at Benetton in 1994

[raymondu999]

The McLaren comment was directed at their torque control in 2008

[Richard]

You mean the ability for a drive to change engine mapping by pressing a paddle? http://www.f1technical.net/development/187

Edit -

We know drivers can change engine map during a race to conserve fuel, or reduce engine wear/temp. So I suppose the system you refer to is still possible?

[raymondu999]

That's what I was asking. What's stopping them from re-implementing this solution?

[Edis]

There are no bans on this solution that I can recall. As long the engine setting is changed with a separate paddle/button/lever it should be legal.

[strad]

they already do...How do you think they launch with next to no wheel spin?...They alter the map so they can floor it and not develop enough power to break them loose.

[myurr]

they already do...How do you think they launch with next to no wheel spin?...They alter the map so they can floor it and not develop enough power to break them loose.

Further to that they're limited as to the number of times they can change engine maps. So they have to complete their first lap using that 'start line' map, before the ECU lets them change to one of the others.

[strad]

I don't believe it's the whole lap but rather something like a couple hundred yards

[MadMatt]

Why pick on McL? Many of the teams had traction and/or launch control. Most famous was Schumacher's "option 13" at Benetton in 1994

I doubt they were the only once to have such "option" ! Plus you have to say that Schumacher was the only one driver who was practicing starts regularly during the GP weekends, until the other drivers found out that it was useful. MAYBE the Benetton had a traction control system, but surely it was not activated at the starts since you could still see the wheels spinning. It could also be that the car had a really little amount of TC so it would not be so obvious but still giving an advantage. I don't know if it was worth the risk tho. But no proof was found !

[strad]

Why pick on McL? Many of the teams had traction and/or launch control. Most famous was Schumacher's "option 13" at Benetton in 1994

I doubt they were the only once to have such "option" ! Plus you have to say that Schumacher was the only one driver who was practicing starts regularly during the GP weekends, until the other drivers found out that it was useful. MAYBE the Benetton had a traction control system, but surely it was not activated at the starts since you could still see the wheels spinning. It could also be that the car had a really little amount of TC so it would not be so obvious but still giving an advantage. I don't know if it was worth the risk tho. But no proof was found !

I can't believe that at this late date you would still try to argue that the Benetton did not have T.C. and or Launch Control.