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[Jensonb]

# A control box (KCU: KERS Control Unit), which manages the behaviour of the MGU when charging and releasing energy. It is linked to the car’s standard electronic control unit.

So the KCU is linked to the ECU but the teams have full control over the software content of the KCU. This surely allows the teams an opportunity to pursue some sort of launch control type system by means of using the KCU to control the way in which the power is applied. The standard ECU cannot possibly have a system which legislates for whatever KCU software the teams have developed if the ECU is the same one as they were running last year.

The ECU regulates what the KCU can do, so it is impossible for the teams to get around the driver aid ban without tampering with the ECU, and they can't do that.

[Gilles 27]

How does the ECU regulate a system (KCU) which was designed afterward? Surely the only way the ECU can regulate the KCU is if a new ECU was given to the teams after they had designed their KCUs, which I don't see as likely

[darwin dali]

Renault chose to go with the electrical solution, as did most other teams. The system consists of three important parts:

# An electric motor (MGU: Motor Generator Unit) situated between the fuel tank and the engine, linked directly to the crankshaft of the V8 to deliver additional power.
# Some latest generation ion-lithium batteries (HVB: High Voltage Battery Pack) capable of storing and delivering energy rapidly.
# A control box (KCU: KERS Control Unit), which manages the behaviour of the MGU when charging and releasing energy. It is linked to the car’s standard electronic control unit.

And Williams went with the fly-wheel solution, which i assume substitutes #2 (ion-li battery) with a flywheel.

The electronic method probably gives you the advantage of placing the battery where the engineers need to (Renault placed it under the fuel tank)... so it could work as some kind of ballast... also, i think its easier to balance the car as this is already a heavy area.

The fly-wheel works more like... 80's toy cars and watches which is probably more straightforward mechanics, we'll see if its more reliable.

The fly-wheel doesn't need cooling like the battery, so that may be an advantage re. reliability.

[darwin dali]

How does the ECU regulate a system (KCU) which was designed afterward? Surely the only way the ECU can regulate the KCU is if a new ECU was given to the teams after they had designed their KCUs, which I don't see as likely

You forget that the FIA has access (or can request it) to each car's telemetric data - makes it kinda difficult to explain certain power surges in particular situations.

[Jensonb]

How does the ECU regulate a system (KCU) which was designed afterward? Surely the only way the ECU can regulate the KCU is if a new ECU was given to the teams after they had designed their KCUs, which I don't see as likely

Because software can be updated relatively simply. Plus, as darwin_dali says, the FiA can analyse telemetry to fidn the use of driver aids - the ECU also makes this easier, as it has the ability to monitor systems.

[Gilles 27]

Yeh there are systems that the FIA has in place as well as the standard ECU and that were in place when the FIA attempted to ban electronic aids in the 1990s but the teams were able to get round this to the extent that the FIA was forced to legalise the technology because it could not effectively police it. The standard ECU is the key development that has allowed the FIA to police electronic aids. If this is circumnavigated, i'm not sure the other systems the FIA has will be sufficient.

I do hope i'm wrong of course!

[Jensonb]

Yeh there are systems that the FIA has in place as well as the standard ECU and that were in place when the FIA attempted to ban electronic aids in the 1990s but the teams were able to get round this to the extent that the FIA was forced to legalise the technology because it could not effectively police it. The standard ECU is the key development that has allowed the FIA to police electronic aids. If this is circumnavigated, i'm not sure the other systems the FIA has will be sufficient.

I do hope i'm wrong of course!

To the extent that the KCU is actually capable of what you described, the FiA can police it through the ECU or Telemetry.

[Griff]

got to remember slicks and grooves are totally different in how they react to tyre degradation.

Found this on the matter of tyre degredation.

"The move to slicks is significant, although we have a lot of experience with these tyres from many different race series so we are confident that we can produce good racing slicks," explained Bridgestone's Hirohide Hamashima; the Japanese manufacturer has been the sole tyre supplied in Formula 1 since the withdrawal of Michelin at the end of the 2006 season. "We are making these tyres to the same sizes as we had with grooved tyres, but this means there is a new front/rear grip balance," the company's Director of Motorsport Tyre Development continued. "The teams will therefore have to work hard to get a good setup, particularly with the varying surface of Albert Park, and we will be working closely with everyone to achieve this."

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/03/23/slicks-to-present-new-challenges/
Is it possible that the McLaren's tyre wear could have been caused by a bad set-up on the day and will be sorted come Aus?

[Jensonb]

got to remember slicks and grooves are totally different in how they react to tyre degradation.

Found this on the matter of tyre degredation.

"The move to slicks is significant, although we have a lot of experience with these tyres from many different race series so we are confident that we can produce good racing slicks," explained Bridgestone's Hirohide Hamashima; the Japanese manufacturer has been the sole tyre supplied in Formula 1 since the withdrawal of Michelin at the end of the 2006 season. "We are making these tyres to the same sizes as we had with grooved tyres, but this means there is a new front/rear grip balance," the company's Director of Motorsport Tyre Development continued. "The teams will therefore have to work hard to get a good setup, particularly with the varying surface of Albert Park, and we will be working closely with everyone to achieve this."

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/03/23/slicks-to-present-new-challenges/
Is it possible that the McLaren's tyre wear could have been caused by a bad set-up on the day and will be sorted come Aus?

Seems odd, McLaren are tyre experts.

[cap-dude]

got to remember slicks and grooves are totally different in how they react to tyre degradation.

Found this on the matter of tyre degredation.

"The move to slicks is significant, although we have a lot of experience with these tyres from many different race series so we are confident that we can produce good racing slicks," explained Bridgestone's Hirohide Hamashima; the Japanese manufacturer has been the sole tyre supplied in Formula 1 since the withdrawal of Michelin at the end of the 2006 season. "We are making these tyres to the same sizes as we had with grooved tyres, but this means there is a new front/rear grip balance," the company's Director of Motorsport Tyre Development continued. "The teams will therefore have to work hard to get a good setup, particularly with the varying surface of Albert Park, and we will be working closely with everyone to achieve this."

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/03/23/slicks-to-present-new-challenges/
Is it possible that the McLaren's tyre wear could have been caused by a bad set-up on the day and will be sorted come Aus?

Seems odd, McLaren are tyre experts.

Exactly what I thought. I thought McLaren would take total advantage of the tyre change and come out flying. But apparently not.

Also, McLaren's troubles I'm pretty sure will remain at least for a few races. Even then, they'll not be the team to beat. But we'll see at least with Australia brings. Which is only 5 days till quali

[simcaster]

Very true, Piquet does not looking promising in the slightest. Braitore has already said Piquest has a lot to prove in 09. But he seems a long way off, he could even be gone mid-season and we could see Grosjean move up.

Renault didn't really want to retain him (They were after Jenson) and I guess we can see why now :S

Good geuss