I see that there is some discontent stirring regarding the standard engine control unit (ECU) to be introduced in 2008. Flavio is making the loudest noise, of course, but when even BMW's Mario Theissen expresses doubts, there has to be something wrong.
Honda F1 engine
As you know, I hate to say I told you so but the fact is I did - way back in F1 Latest days. The only surprise is that it has taken so long for it to become clear that there may be a conflict of interest involved in the FIA awarding the contract to a McLaren-owned company.
A large part of the discontent is that tests with the ECU have raised problems with throttle and engine controls. But McLaren's present situation, with accusations of industrial espionage hanging over them, is an obvious target for concern amongst other teams when asked to use one of their products.
What I do not understand is why nobody objected when the ECU was first approved. It seemed a very obvious case of a potential conflict of interests, no matter how many sweet and innocent denials were made. That sort of situation is best avoided by going nowhere near it and the FIA had a perfectly valid alternative offered them at the time - Magneti Marelli, suppliers of electronic components to many F1 teams over the years, had tendered for the ECU production too.
The manner in which the Marelli option was not taken seemed strange at the time and made me wonder how the FIA go about making choices in such matters. There has been a lot of talk about F1 teams becoming more open in how much they allow the public to see and that process could start in no better place than the FIA itself.
Of course, the FIA shrug the whole matter off with characteristic disdain. An FIA source insisted that the awarding of the tender will be followed through with. "The teams always oppose anything that is new," he added.
Maybe they have good reason to.
Honda F1 engine
As you know, I hate to say I told you so but the fact is I did - way back in F1 Latest days. The only surprise is that it has taken so long for it to become clear that there may be a conflict of interest involved in the FIA awarding the contract to a McLaren-owned company.
A large part of the discontent is that tests with the ECU have raised problems with throttle and engine controls. But McLaren's present situation, with accusations of industrial espionage hanging over them, is an obvious target for concern amongst other teams when asked to use one of their products.
What I do not understand is why nobody objected when the ECU was first approved. It seemed a very obvious case of a potential conflict of interests, no matter how many sweet and innocent denials were made. That sort of situation is best avoided by going nowhere near it and the FIA had a perfectly valid alternative offered them at the time - Magneti Marelli, suppliers of electronic components to many F1 teams over the years, had tendered for the ECU production too.
The manner in which the Marelli option was not taken seemed strange at the time and made me wonder how the FIA go about making choices in such matters. There has been a lot of talk about F1 teams becoming more open in how much they allow the public to see and that process could start in no better place than the FIA itself.
Of course, the FIA shrug the whole matter off with characteristic disdain. An FIA source insisted that the awarding of the tender will be followed through with. "The teams always oppose anything that is new," he added.
Maybe they have good reason to.