F1-Blog

Control Electronics Debate continues

BMW have added the voice of concern to the already vocal Renault and Ferrari worries about the M.E.S Electronics that all the teams have to run this year.

I can see there reason for concern in it’s most basic way, however the system is jointly developed with Microsoft, and McLaren Electronics are only supplying just that, the electronics that joins the system to the car, almost all the development of the ’software’ is done by, or overseen by Microsoft.

However the whole thing about the standard control unit is a farce anyhow, yes try cut costs, but this has only raised them as teams have not only had to re-develop components, interfaces, procedures and practices, but have essentially lost a sponsor as well (whoever was supplying the electronics before M.E.S)

To add insult to injury, how are the teams going to add the energy re-gain systems expected next year to their cars, if they have little control over the electronics, as most of the systems are going to require very clever, and advanced electronics solutions.

Last one for the evening

This is the video of the Fiorano test of the F2008.

McLaren MP4-23 Launch event pictures

Following the Ferrari shakedown picture’s, here are the McLaren launch pictures from today (Quick warning, some of the images are quite large 2+Mb when opened).

More pics after the jump.

Ferrari F2008 Shake Down Pictures

Here’s some pics from the F2008 Fiorano Shakedown.

There is a bunch more shots after the jump.

McLaren launch the MP4-23

McLaren are the second team to launch their F1 challenger for 2008.

The car has been in design/wind tunnel since May last year, and like the Ferrari is more of a super tweaked version of the 2007 car.

The car will have to be good this season, as it’s been pawed over by the FIA and Ferrari, and most importantly has two very fast rookies at the wheel, if the car is flawed it will certainly show.

As with the Ferrari, we can see that the aero is the most significantly changed part of the car.

The sidepods, like the Ferrari have gone through the biggest visible changes, along with the high crash protection that all the cars will run.

We can expect to see significant development work before the race in Australia, as the car will not be finished just yet, and from the looks of it carries quite a few of the MP4-22’s parts over to this car.

Expect to see a significantly modified car over the next few weeks at the test’s.