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Powerless F1 drivers frustrated by Bahrain F1 software glitch

201 points · 169 comments · llm_nerd

  1. jey · · focus · HN ↗
    Seems wild that they can code and deploy an update of a critical-seeming component in the field like that. I thought such a firmware update would need extensive QA in the lab, along with root causing why this bug slipped through their processes anyway.

    But maybe that's the difference between shipping a controller for F1 versus shipping one for an industrial or consumer product? shrug.

    1. dylan604 · · focus · HN ↗
      I'm wondering how good the simulators are. At the start of the season, they were still learning the systems trying to figure out why they were losing power in the straights. So depending on the driver, issues may or may not become apparent. That's like trying to debug why an email can only be sent to a recipient less than 500 miles away.
      1. rossriley · · focus · HN ↗
        Anthony Davidson who is the Mercedes test driver said that the teams can simulate these scenarios and it seemed that the Mercedes cars were not affected so it seems that other teams hadn't done similar testing in various scenarios.
        1. altmanaltman · · focus · HN ↗
          One of the mercedes literally broke down and did not finish the race. They might not have faced the issue during the first time they went out in that race but Merc reliablity has been very shaky. And ofc Ant will talk only good things about Mercedes. But this is not the type of things they use the driver simulator for, it is to help the drivers train. These types of issues don't make sense to spend simulator time on with the driver in it
          1. dylan604 · · focus · HN ↗
            Seems a lot better place to learn than in the middle of the race and earning $0 for the race. Isn't that the entire point of a simulator to learn things that are too expensive to learn in the real world?
            1. altmanaltman · · focus · HN ↗
              > Seems a lot better place to learn than in the middle of the race and earning $0 for the race.

              That's... not how it works at all, though. There are no prizes for individual races and the championship money is also pennies to the teams.

              Mercedes's Kimi Antonelli is going to win the WDC anyway for sure at this point, given the points difference.

              > Isn't that the entire point of a simulator to learn things that are too expensive to learn in the real world?

              You're right but this is not those expensive things. Track time is extremely limited, so the primary role of the sim is to develop the car and how it feels to the drivers, mainly so the setup feels perfect to them.

              System-level bugs etc must have their own testing but sim is mainly for driver-engineer testing. Many drivers also don't like using the sim at all like Hamilton.

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