Pleae explain the variety of F1 engine noises?

[riff_raff]

"with TC being banned again next year...have they worked out how to police it yet??"

Traction control (except that performed by a competent driver with his right foot) requires sensors, actuators and software. All of which are easily detectable by the FIA scrutineers.

It's the passive stuff, like flexible, drooping wings and undertrays, that's difficult to detect.

[joseff]

Traction control (except that performed by a competent driver with his right foot) requires sensors, actuators and software. All of which are easily detectable by the FIA scrutineers.

Not really...
1. Sensors: The best way is to have sensors at the front and rear wheels to measure speed and acceleration. However, during the 1994-2001 several teams used sensors on the camshaft and crankshaft, and using the difference to compute speed and acceleration. Was it effective? We'll never know.

2. Software: With each team building custom electronics and custom software, it's really difficult to tell which part of the compiled code does exactly what. They If they want, the engineers could even plant red herrings just to make life more difficult for the FIA hackers. Hence the move to standardized ECU with standardized interfaces, to make policing software easier.

[Tom]

I remember Benneton had, for several races back in the mid 90s, a suspect area in their software which was thought to be traction control even though the system was banned. Benneton just argued that they weren't actually using it so it must be legal.