Ray S

Who will win?

DB_NC_95C2

ROSBERG

multi21

McLaren apologises to Webber for ECU issue

19 March 2013





McLaren Electronic Systems (MES) has apologised to Mark Webber and Red Bull following the season-opener in Melbourne, with the company's standard ECU, used by all 22 drivers, developing an issue in the Australian's RB9 prior to the race start.

Webber, who fell down the order from second to seventh in the space of two corners, lost telemetry data on his formation lap, leading to a full system reset. Although MES had initially claimed that the device was working normally, a subsequent post-race investigation at its base uncovered an issue and has thus prompted the apology.

"The electronic units themselves ran without incident in Melbourne, but there was a software-related issue that meant that Mark Webber's Red Bull Racing car's garage data system had to be re-started during the formation lap," read an MES statement. "That disrupted his preparations for the start of the race, for which Mark and the team has our apology. We are working together with them to prevent any recurrence."

The ECU currently in use was introduced ahead of the 2013 season, being tested for the first time during the pre-season gatherings at Jerez and the Circuit de Catalunya. It will remain in place for the transition to 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged engines in 2014.

StoogeMoe

Did anybody catch in the pre-race at Australia that a Ferrari tech was madly cleaning the tarmac near the car's tires? I bet he was putting down some traction compound. Is that legal? No wonder why the Ferrari's always get a great start.

You would think Perez would do good again, but the McLaren's looked abysmal at Australia. I guess my vote goes to Falonso to win the race. They seem to have the best race pace, although Lotus was pretty impressive. Maybe Grosjean can win his first if he wakes up from winter hibernation.

stuttgart46

Let's have a poll to see how many positions Webber will lose before T1.

Flying Finn

Didn't catch that but it is illegal.

However all the teams are also mandated to radio communicate in English... Capito?

paradisenb

"If Ferrari does it, it is not illegal."

ltc

Common practice at the Canadian Grand Prix every year

ltc

Hater

paradisenb

Tricky, huh?

MattUF

Yeah the crew member had a towel and was furiously scrubbing the spot where the tires would be at the start.

9.5 Degrees

That's it, Det. Columbo, you've solved the mystery on why they Ferrari's "always get a great start". The convenience of the cameras catching it while about 1000 other people were standing on the grid was just a coincidence and a brilliant plan. When asked by Will Buxton, the Ferrari mechanic said he spilt some orange juice and was cleaning it up.....

Hurry, someone call Red Bull racing and have them "spill some orange juice" on the tarmac under Webber's car because he NEVER gets a good start.

Sometimes I wonder how long you guys been watching this racing thing or maybe it's just a joke and I didn't get it....

FGL28

FIFY

Larry Herman

Raikkonen. Going with him the whole year unless the car becomes uncompetitive.

2BWise

+1. With the Lotus being so easy on it's tires and the limited time between Races 1 and 2 they're sitting pretty to taking another win. IMO. No one else will have time to bring any upgrades to try and match the Lotus' (Loti??, you know what I mean) tire wear and pace.