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McLaren ’traction control’ (20 posts)

Topic tags: McLaren TC Traction Control ECU

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matt90 said 7 months, 1 week ago:

Not so, because the device prevents excessive application of the power in the first place rather than reducing the wheel speed to how it normally would be under the full 8-cylinder power. Otherwise you could argue that a driver applying the throttle steadily rather than all at once also ‘affects (in a negative manner) the rate of the rear wheels being spun under excessive application of power’.

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bag0 said 7 months, 1 week ago:

I think we really started it the wrong way, to discuss its legality, we should discuss what it does.

After a few uneventful hours I came up with (IMO) the simplest solution. I think it is not a device, just a switch.

There are a few engine control modes installed on every car, at every race, between which the driver can choose. That is how they can save fuel, or give a “boost” to the car, or change the throttle maps for each tyre compound. They use switches on the steering wheel to choose inbetween them, my guess is, the McLarens have an engine control mode where only 4 cylinders are working, and they switch to it by turning the steering-wheel, rather than turning a switch on the wheel.
Going by that it is still legal. Changing engine modes on track is legal, and the technical regulations only say that:

Any single switch, button, paddle sensor or pedal sensor used by the driver must be connected to a single analogue or digital input of the ECU.

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PieLighter said 7 months, 1 week ago:

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think it’s unanimous across all teams, that they cut 4 cylinders to aid traction. I doubt that it’s driver-operated – rather it’s programmed into the engine map.

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Bob said 7 months, 1 week ago:

I read somewhere that the current-generation F1 standard ECU is incapable of running traction control, and heavily restricts engine braking. Not sure if these limitations also cover cutting cylinders though. Could someone clarify?

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bag0 said 7 months, 1 week ago:

@pielighter
I think there were some clarifications about that either last year, or this year.

5.6.3 The maximum throttle target map in the ECU may only be used to avoid throttle target oscillations when the change of torque is small for a change of throttle position. It must not be used to artificially reduce the maximum engine torque.
The selection of the maximum throttle target map will be fixed during qualifying and race.

@bobthevulcan
It is capable, you are able to program the unit in any way, but it is not allowed.

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