intrusive electronics

[yzfr7]

From Canada's Thursday press conference:

Q: (Dan Knutson - National Speed Sport News) Robert, last year you had no podium, this year you have a lot. What has changed in your driving style, what has changed in the car that the results are coming this year?

Kubica: I don't think my driving style has changed at all. The biggest difference is that at the end of last year, as soon as we switched off all the systems which last year were helping drivers, I found the car much better, much easier to drive and as soon as we started working towards this season I was more comfortable in the car and we are doing a better job on the set-up side as well with my new engineer. I just feel more comfortable in the car. The car feels better and I can attack more, I know what the car will do. Last year was a big lottery for me, what the car was doing, before the corner, in the corners, so it was difficult to extract the maximum and to push.

BMW electronics didn't actually HELP the drivers in the end...

I never liked the idea of such automatic controls. It can easily become a so complicated system that you spend more time learning how it works than using it to your benefit. It would need a complete symbiosis between driver and designer to have such a system really helping the driver. And it seems that it was not the case with BMW.

Of course I know there are cases when it is better (mandatory) to have automatic controls - Anthony Hamilton can tell you . But when you have the best drivers in the world, you have to be very arrogant to think you can make a computer do a better job.

[WhiteBlue]

I think he refers specifically to engine mapping with TC and ABS substitution in the dry. there are many electronic applications that make a car perform faster. launch control, automatic upshift and the like. the problem is to make it a level playing field. the current tech rules involving a standard ECU seem to make it level. if you go back to proprietary electronics with different functionality scope you will find that top of the line electronic driver aids make some drivers faster than those who use inferior stuff or profit from unaided controls. so Robert's comments are to be seen in that context. it is always relative speed and control versus other drivers that the guys are talking about and not absolute. I would take Massa as an exponent of the opposing faction. he has probably profited from the highly developed stage of electronic driver aids at Ferrari more than from the restrictions we have now.

the problem may be back in a few years when more design freedom in KERS application will require electronic controls to mesh KERS and engine power to front and rear wheels. so lets enjoy the current state of affairs as we have it.