The standard ECU - Some key points
Right, time to explain some key points about the McLaren Electronics standard ECU that seem to have been missed, mis-understood or ignored.
There is a good article in "Race Tech" magazine (March 2008) about the standard ECU, some of which is indirectly quoted below.
From now on I will refer back to this thread, rather than explaining it again. 
1. The contract for the standard ECU was awarded on a commercial basis. Magneti Marelli also tendered for the contract, but were deemed to be too expensive.
I have heard that the bid from MM may have been 2-3 times that of a pre 2008 spec MM ECU and similarly higher than the MES bid.
2. Microsoft's involvement is purely commercial. All of the hardware and on board 'soft' code for the ECU is designed and built by MES - ie nothing on the cars has anything to do with Microsoft.
Microsoft is very nearly a 'sponsor' of the standard ECU and at most will have had the off-car data processing software run by them.
3. The ECU is not a totally new ECU developed for the 2008 regulations.
It is based on the previous iterations of the TAG Electronics/MES ECUs that have been used in F1 and sports car racing since around 2000 (the architecture known as 'Star 2', which was a major re-design of 'Star' which dates back to the early/mid '90s).
4. MES is not a new supplier to F1 teams outside McLaren. Several teams have used TAG Electronics/MES ECUs over the years, as well as some other eletronic components and all cars have run with the MES rain light for the past couple of seasons.
Disclaimer: The views expressed by this forum member are purely opinions and observations and should not be interpreted as fact, or indeed as anything other than a cheap gag for my own amusement.
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Originally Posted by justjesper
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