Formula 1

Vital signs

Monitoring the vital signs of a race car is an essential part of Formula 1. Wherever the McLaren Racing team is competing, sensors on the car transmit data to the pit crew and to the McLaren Technology Centre. With over 200 attributes being measured at any one time, the McLaren-designed software and analysis systems are essential to allow the team to visualise, understand and act rapidly on real-time data.

Electronic suppliers to the whole of Formula 1

In 2006, Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, invited manufacturers of automotive electronics to propose a standardised Engine Control Unit (ECU) for all Formula 1 cars for the 2008, 2009 and 2010 championships. The FIA chose the ECU solution developed by McLaren Electronics with Microsoft and awarded the contract to supply the unit to all competing Formula 1 teams. The solution comprises the powertrain control, data logging and telemetry control components on the car and also a central data server in the garage which receives data from the car and logs it for near-instant analysis.