Honda found a bug in the McLaren CPU?

**mstillhere** · 14th Feb 08, 20:29

I read in an other F1 site that Honda found a bug in the CPU made by McLAren. (I requested a link to verify teh news). According to this article published by Autospint, by pushing 3 buttons at the same time the electronic system is able to override some of the parameters set in the system and allows the car to have a super fast start. Way fast. The question is: is McLaren aware of it and is McLaren aware of other bypasses that would give them an unfair advantge oder their adversaries?
Now, since I don't have the article in front of me and I have not seen nor heard any major news media mentioning it, I have my reservations about the trueness of this news, although, I have to confess, a little voice in my head screams that it is all true. While I am waiting for a link or copy of this aricle, again published by Autosprint, I wonder if anyone on this panel has any info on this matter.

**Mr Alca-Tazizzle** · 14th Feb 08, 20:31

Originally Posted by mstillhere

I read in an other F1 site that Honda found a bug in the CPU made by McLAren. (I requested a link to verify teh news). According to this article published by Autospint, by pushing 3 buttons at the same time the electronic system is able to override some of the parameters set in the system and allows the car to have a super fast start. Way fast. The question is: is McLaren aware of it and is McLaren aware of other bypasses that would give them an unfair advantge oder their adversaries?
Now, since I don't have the article in front of me and I have not seen nor heard any major news media mentioning it, I have my reservations about the trueness of this news, although, I have to confess, a little voice in my head screams that it is all true. While I am waiting for a link or copy of this aricle, again published by Autosprint, I wonder if anyone on this panel has any info on this matter.

Nigel Stepney sabotaged it with help from Ron!

**blakebeatty** · 14th Feb 08, 20:42

Originally Posted by mstillhere

I read in an other F1 site that Honda found a bug in the CPU made by McLAren. (I requested a link to verify teh news). According to this article published by Autospint, by pushing 3 buttons at the same time the electronic system is able to override some of the parameters set in the system and allows the car to have a super fast start. Way fast. The question is: is McLaren aware of it and is McLaren aware of other bypasses that would give them an unfair advantge oder their adversaries?
Now, since I don't have the article in front of me and I have not seen nor heard any major news media mentioning it, I have my reservations about the trueness of this news, although, I have to confess, a little voice in my head screams that it is all true. While I am waiting for a link or copy of this aricle, again published by Autosprint, I wonder if anyone on this panel has any info on this matter.

I cannot fathom, after all that has transpired, that they would be this stupid.

**mstillhere** · 14th Feb 08, 21:07

Originally Posted by mstillhere

I read in an other F1 site that Honda found a bug in the CPU made by McLAren. (I requested a link to verify teh news). According to this article published by Autospint, by pushing 3 buttons at the same time the electronic system is able to override some of the parameters set in the system and allows the car to have a super fast start. Way fast. The question is: is McLaren aware of it and is McLaren aware of other bypasses that would give them an unfair advantge oder their adversaries?
Now, since I don't have the article in front of me and I have not seen nor heard any major news media mentioning it, I have my reservations about the trueness of this news, although, I have to confess, a little voice in my head screams that it is all true. While I am waiting for a link or copy of this aricle, again published by Autosprint, I wonder if anyone on this panel has any info on this matter.

Here there a link: http://www.tgcom.mediaset.it/sport/a...lo400703.shtml
It's in Italian. It pretty much says what I wrote in my message. It also mentions that the source of their info is Autosprint. Does anyone know their link?
(No it's not Autosprint.com : )

**gloomyDAY** · 14th Feb 08, 21:58

Can't wait to see the story behind this accusation!

I get back from work in about 4 hours. This thread will probably be swamped.

**Breeze** · 14th Feb 08, 21:59

http://www.autosprint.it/auto/indexR...AutoSprint.asp

**Hawkmoon** · 14th Feb 08, 23:41

They would be the three buttons marked "CTRL + ALT + DELETE".

After they've done this, the drivers have to make sure they hit the "Super Fast Launch" button and not the "Shut Down" button becuase we all know what happened to Hamilton in Brazil when he pressed the wrong button.

**mstillhere** · 15th Feb 08, 03:23

Originally Posted by Breeze

http://www.autosprint.it/auto/indexR...AutoSprint.asp

Hi Breeze, thank you for the link. I actually registered to see if I could read the article. But besides reading the title of the article on the cover page, which is "that's how they were cheating at the start" I could not gain access to the article and read it. but, according to this article the BUG exists and Honda found out about it. Their question is: Did McLAren know about it and are there any other bugs in the electronic system, only known by McLaren, that would give McLaren an unfair advantage over their rivals? I have a feeling that if this news is true it would be in the news media fairly soon otherwise it could be hushed and dealt with behind closed doors to avoid more bad publicity.

**Ari** · 15th Feb 08, 04:21

Going to be very interesting.

If it's found that McLaren are playing funny buggers again then there's going to have to be something done about it. Can they afford to keep paying fines?

I'm a Ferrari man all the way but we need McLaren in there for the competition.

Absurd. Uncle Ron's lost it.

**Ranger** · 15th Feb 08, 04:50

Well the FIA selected McLaren's tender for a CPU, and these problems occur when you monopolise the supply of a certain component for a sport.

The problem will probably be fixed soon.

**mstillhere** · 15th Feb 08, 06:49

Originally Posted by Malllen

Well the FIA selected McLaren's tender for a CPU, and these problems occur when you monopolise the supply of a certain component for a sport.

The problem will probably be fixed soon.

Besides the correcteness of the news or not, knowing how often teams have been caught bending the rules, cheating and so on, why not giving a third party the task to engeenier such device? I know the all the teams were equally asked to do it but why would you do that? After all, and that's what I find shocking, since when Formula 1 teams are experts in electronics?

**pino** · 15th Feb 08, 07:27

Originally Posted by mstillhere

Hi Breeze, thank you for the link. I actually registered to see if I could read the article. But besides reading the title of the article on the cover page, which is "that's how they were cheating at the start" I could not gain access to the article and read it.

Autosprint doesn't have a web-site where you can read their articles, you need to buy the magazine for that

**wmcot** · 15th Feb 08, 07:49

Has anybody got a link to a website where I can download the cheat codes for the McLaren ECU??

p.s. If Honda found it, they obviously haven't been making use of it based on their performance.

**markabilly** · 15th Feb 08, 07:52

Originally Posted by mstillhere

Hi Breeze, thank you for the link. I actually registered to see if I could read the article. But besides reading the title of the article on the cover page, which is "that's how they were cheating at the start" I could not gain access to the article and read it. but, according to this article the BUG exists and Honda found out about it. Their question is: Did McLAren know about it and are there any other bugs in the electronic system, only known by McLaren, that would give McLaren an unfair advantage over their rivals? I have a feeling that if this news is true it would be in the news media fairly soon otherwise it could be hushed and dealt with behind closed doors to avoid more bad publicity.

What a dumb question.

Of course team intergrity macheater did not know. It was a rogue employee........

No one at Macheat ever saw the instructions....

No one at Macheat ever pushed the buttons......

No other bugs exist at macheat.......

There are no emails.......

**ioan** · 15th Feb 08, 07:59

Originally Posted by markabilly

What a dumb question.

Of course team intergrity macheater did not know. It was a rogue employee........

No one at Macheat ever saw the instructions....

No one at Macheat ever pushed the buttons......

No other bugs exist at macheat.......

There are no emails.......

**ArrowsFA1** · 15th Feb 08, 08:46

Originally Posted by mstillhere

I have my reservations about the trueness of this news...

Originally Posted by mstillhere

I have a feeling that if this news is true it would be in the news media fairly soon otherwise it could be hushed and dealt with behind closed doors to avoid more bad publicity.

Without there being any confirmation of this story as yet it does seem to have been put together following Jarno Trulli's recent comments (here & here) i.e. suspicions of some form of TC being used.

**leopard** · 15th Feb 08, 09:01

Before making statements, Honda must ensure that it applies to all cars. If the key combination only work out for Honda it would be great benefit to give them more chance challenging the title.

Never tell others, that's the first rule

**DonJippo** · 15th Feb 08, 09:41

Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1

Without there being any confirmation of this story as yet it does seem to have been put together following Jarno Trulli's recent comments (here & here) i.e. suspicions of some form of TC being used.

Where in the second article it says he is suspicious of TC being used?

**ArrowsFA1** · 15th Feb 08, 09:50

Originally Posted by DonJippo

Where in the second article it says he is suspicious of TC being used?

"Looking at the behaviour of the Ferraris on the track is obviously depressing. They can brake wherever they want to but most of all they can accelerate wherever they want to, while I always have to be careful with getting on the power, which is not managed by traction control anymore."

He certainly does not say they are using TC, but he is noting a clear difference between his Toyota and the Ferraris. Obviously, given the different levels of performance between the two teams in recent years that may simply be because Ferrari are doing a better job with the new regs. However, Jarno's comments do rather echo Senna's observations of the Benetton at the start of the 1994 season.

**ioan** · 15th Feb 08, 10:34

Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1

He certainly does not say they are using TC, but he is noting a clear difference between his Toyota and the Ferraris. Obviously, given the different levels of performance between the two teams in recent years that may simply be because Ferrari are doing a better job with the new regs. However, Jarno's comments do rather echo Senna's observations of the Benetton at the start of the 1994 season.

And the liaison between the '94 Benetton and the '08 Ferrari being?!