ECU supplier: Microsoft?

[Bender]

oops

but i was right

[Tom]

me too but i don't post it all over the net.

Getting repetitive?

[nudge]

i notice that max's road map for the future he is leaving the door open for the return of non standardised electronics.
I just love the way the guys mind works. Bring in regulations that puts whole departments out of jobs, and then say, but in 3 years you will need to re-recruit them again.

[West]

If this happens, expect the blue screen of death to appear in the middle of Eau Rouge

[mx_tifoso]

Will each team now have Microsoft branding on their cars ?as they will all use it for their ECU software,
i was thinking Magneti Marelli was left out in the cold, but i believe they make some other electronical components for Ferrari, and a few other teams as well,such as the SMG electronics,
I was going to say thats its not "fair" that MES is going to supply the standard issue ECU for all teams, but if Magneti Marelli was the one who was supplying them i most surely would'nt be complaining

[nudge]

well it is fair because if they wished they could have tendered for the contract and offered a better price than MES.
to be honesrt, it was probably not something marelli wanted anyways...max made it clear that this was not going to be a commercially rewarding contract for the winning bidder. i wouldnt be at all surprised if MES were the only bidder.

[friesenb]

Someone should ask the FIA.. "Microsoft... Are you sure?" At least now, Microsoft crashes will no longer be purely virtual.

I realize why they would choose a large software company here, but there are better ways. In the past, the FIA had to check the code in the ECU to prevent certain illegal activities (See the traction control article on this site). Sure it's easier for them if they don't need to check everyone's ECU, but I believe that it should be kept more traditional. The engine builder should be in charge of the ECU (Renault knows their engine, BMW knows their engine, etc), or even real OEM ECU companies like Bosch or Denso.

[nudge]

Someone should ask the FIA.. "Microsoft... Are you sure?" At least now, Microsoft crashes will no longer be purely virtual.

I realize why they would choose a large software company here, but there are better ways. In the past, the FIA had to check the code in the ECU to prevent certain illegal activities (See the traction control article on this site). Sure it's easier for them if they don't need to check everyone's ECU, but I believe that it should be kept more traditional. The engine builder should be in charge of the ECU (Renault knows their engine, BMW knows their engine, etc), or even real OEM ECU companies like Bosch or Denso.

Microsofts only involvement is BRANDING. The electronics and code are all being done by mclaren electronic systems.

[3KGT]

That was six years ago, at least; correct me, I am not sure, was it a Jordan?

Fisicella won the 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix after officials realized that he was leading the race when it was red flagged. If we disregard that win, it was afterall a fluke, then the last time a private team won was when Herbert managed to take the victory in the 1999 European Grand Prix for Stewart-Ford. Actually if I remember correctly, Heinz Herald Frentzen won in the Jordan-Honda that year at Monza. Damon Hill also won in a Jordan-Honda in the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix. The point is that it has been 8 years since a smaller team legitimately won a race, and something should be done to change that.

[s91066]

In my opinion the MES choise is at least strange. I mean Magneti-Marelli supplies the vast majority of teams (I think that only McLaren and Honda are not using MM software, since RB uses MM for engine and Pi for chassis).

In any case, I hate the ECU part. Because you can prevent those things my a scalar design. Let the ECU has two parts. One that is closed source, and a second one that the team can manipulate using APIs. That way, each team will use the same ECU with the setting they want. They could even use another ECU of their choice... I understand that each team will program the ECU the way their engine should be but...

In any case, I do not like it. MES is part of an F1 company. Why should Renault, Toyota, Red Bull gives money to McLaren?

And more important. Why Honda should drop one of the best engine software around (PGM-FI)?

[ss_collins]

Full lowdown on the 2008 ECU in July Racecar Engineering