As the FIA prepares Max Mosley's more restrictive Formula 1 rules package for its 2008 debut, its World Motor Sport Council has decided that Microsoft (Yes, that Microsoft. Really.) will be the official supplier of engine control units under the new rules, which go into effect for the 2008 season.We'll resist the temptation to resurrect all of those "If Microsoft made cars" jokes, but we just have to point out that if the F1 ECUs follow the same development path as Windows Vista, Max may have to wait until 2009 (or 2010...) before kicking off his 2008 season. And of course, "crashing" will take on a new meaning... (Sorry. Couldn't resist.)
In other news, the Council confirmed Bridgestone as the sole tire supplier for Formula 1 for 2008 through 2010. With the withdrawal of Michelin at the end of 2006, Bridgestone will move to de facto sole supplier status a year ahead of schedule, in 2007.
[Source: FIA]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kyle2.0 @ Jul 6th 2006 8:50PM
This sums it all up:
http://www.pitpass.com/images/headlines/jokes/clippy.jpg
Bert @ Jul 6th 2006 8:54PM
I wonder if MS will get sued again for being a monopoly?
skaz @ Jul 6th 2006 9:29PM
Blue screen of death will take on a whole new meaning.
GhostDoggy @ Jul 6th 2006 10:12PM
Will it have an integrated Media Player? One that cannot be removed?
doug @ Jul 6th 2006 10:47PM
On the plus side, if the team needs to download a new driver.....
Donovan @ Jul 6th 2006 11:09PM
This sums it up fairly well too.
http://ubersoft.net/comics/hd20060706.png
chuck goolsbee @ Jul 6th 2006 11:18PM
Feature bloat will have these cars weighing as much as a hummer to maintain the hardware requirements.
The cars will have to never run on the first Tuesday to receive their patches.
Oh... these jokes just write themselves.
Ari @ Jul 7th 2006 3:07AM
Actually, Microsoft MES is combined with Microsoft's money and Mclarens know-how. The company in question is part of McLaren group and is placed in Woking.
RacetrackOwner @ Jul 7th 2006 5:21AM
MICROSOFT BASHING! CLASSIC! You guys are comedy geniuses. Maybe you should go write a comedy blog instead. Thanks for missing the opportunity to tell us something useful about this news item.
Jeremy @ Jul 7th 2006 6:32AM
Now someone needs to make a steering wheel with Ctrl-Alt-Del
GhostDoggy @ Jul 7th 2006 8:44AM
RacetrackOwner, are blog responders suppose to be journalist reporting additionally to what Autoblog has posted? Sorry, I didn't know it was our job to search out relavent information and present it for your learning needs. I'll try harder.
Considering the examples of prior software deployment by Microsoft, I would wonder how well their efforts in the arena will present themselves. How much liability will be taken, in blame, for 'questionable' conditions.
jason @ Jul 7th 2006 8:53AM
This conflicts...
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=28624
MikeInNC @ Jul 7th 2006 9:07AM
I'm crushed. F1 is my favorite and adding my least favorite software company doesn't make me happy. On the other hand, maybe they will put some money into promotion of the USGP. If they do that, I'll survive.
??????? @ Jul 7th 2006 12:37PM
What the hell is F1 thinking, running Windows based system is asking for nothing but trouble. Most likely what will happen is Gates will buy F1, and make all the drivers race on the XBox360 so Microsoft won't be responsible for crashing cars or worse.
P to the C @ Jul 7th 2006 12:50PM
Oh man, I read the title and thought they were _sponsoring_ a car in 2008. That would be the ultimate. Or how about a Windows car for NASCAR? That would be even cooler. Being sponsored by the worlds top software maker run by the worlds top philanthropist I'm sure it would gain a huge following.
gbh @ Jul 7th 2006 1:37PM
It does seem more than just a bit foolish.
It has to be about getting MS money, because there is absolutely nothing else positive the softies will bring to the table.
Anything MS in a mission critical app will definately add a new layer of disaster potential to the sport.
Of course, MS will take no responsibility.
BTW- Once you look past the warm, fuzzy PR bunnies of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation - you might just realize the only thing Gates is really doing is trying to create a new customer base. Folks in Africa who don't know better, perhaps holding off the open source migration for a few more years. (yeah, they do other stuff to. all of it highly self-serving.)
dre @ Jul 7th 2006 1:53PM
Its April 1st again??!?! You have got to be f'king kidding me.
Somebody please shoot Max Mosely, he is turning my favourite motorsports to sh!t, I cant believe they are gonna let Microsoft!!! do the cars' ECUs....dear God.
I'm gonna stop my lil brother from kart racing today and send him to the airforce academy or something, he had his heart set on F1, but with microsoft, it just might be a little too dangerous.
James @ Jul 8th 2006 12:06AM
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Max Mosley needs to be fired. The man is ruining F1. First it was the one tire per race fiasco and now this.
Alastair @ Jul 10th 2006 5:22AM
The ECUs will not be running Windows for goodness sake. This resurrection of every microsoft joke is sad, the ECU is not likely to run any substantial form of an OS. It is hard coded and embedded specifically for the purpose therefore not needing an OS to live on top of. Microsoft are providing the money for the project, and someone above has stated that the actual technical know-how is being done by one of the McLaren subcompanies. (That is perhaps where we should be focusing our attention and making jokes abotu how Mclaren will engineer a shoddy ecu for other teams and have a special one for themselves etc etc)