Trulli: F1 teams already cheating with electronic aids

Posted Wed Jan 23 2008 10:47 PM by Ralph Hanson

Jarno Trulli says he is concerned that the banning of electronic aids has returned the spectre of cheating to formula one. Toyota's Italian driver is quoted as telling the magazine Autosprint that, eight weeks before the opening race of 2008, some rival teams may have found a way around the new standard electronics developed and supplied by McLaren Electronic Systems.

He suspects that some teams are already using illegal forms of launch and traction control in pre-season testing.

"I'm not saying someone's cheating, even though we've received some conflicting information at Toyota," Trulli, 33, said.

"But having analysed the behaviour on the track both now and in the tests in December, the changes between them are many -- and in several cases suspicious," he added. (GMM)

Reader Comments

Thu Jan 24 2008 6:46 AM
Eljay says

I know tradition is a key word in F1,but surely the tradition for cheating we can do without?
Thu Jan 24 2008 10:46 AM
Paul says

Cheating? It's not a tradition, it is a method. One that has been used since motorsport racing began. Trulli's comments refer to technology, not passing of information and such. So... only the stewards can make a judgement. And a judgement means an interpretation. The teams always push the limits. I think Trulli's comments are premature and believe me he is not the only one who "analysed the behaviour on the track"
I think the problem with modern racing is that there are too many rules. In the beginning and up to perhaps the 1960's, the rules were open enough that innovation was accepted and adopted. Today the technology has surpassed the formula. A new formula has to be adopted that allows the technology to flourish. Instead the formula has become an interpretation of rules that are designed to supress the technology. A very very small engine size limit would keep the cars at reasonable speeds but allow all kinds of innovations without the need for rules that limit the technology.
Thu Jan 24 2008 1:52 PM
chris says

Paul... i agree completely, and have posted this same view several times. right now they are using 3L v10s. I bet you they could use 1L 4cyls and get just as much if not more power from them. or go something even smaller. Figure out how small of a displacement the technology will allow you to go while keeping the power levels the same. and then develop the hell out of it. in 3 or 4 or 5 years.. when the next engine rules are released, drop the displacement again. allow for hybrid tech, all electric cars, momentum recovery, you name it. if some one can make a hybrid car faster than a normal one, or an all electric car that is faster than the two for that matter.. then be my guest and do it. next time we rewrite the rules, we'll put in stipulations that will make what youre doing today harder. but until then, you've invented new tech for the auto industry to use and you can own the championship until we make it illegal.

u need 5 restrictions: displacement, 3 max dimensions, and a max weight.
Thu Jan 24 2008 3:27 PM
Steve says

I think putting the engine development freeze was stupid. Banning traction control is good. F1 seems to just kinda be adjusting rules blindly and seeing what sticks. Just the other day they upped the license fee while the original reason for the engine development freeze was to reduce the cost and allow more privateer teams to play. BTW Chris, not trying to call you out just a minor correction, the current engine is a 3L V8.
Thu Jan 24 2008 3:40 PM
James says

Correction to the correction: it's a 2.4 litre V8.

There's an old saying: if you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'.

Put another way, while the rules are there, it is up to the engineers to find the loopholes, weak spots and gaps in the regulations. Otherwise, all engineers might as well resign and let Max Mosley design everything, which seems to be the unfortunate trend.

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