Thread

Powerless F1 drivers frustrated by Bahrain F1 software glitch

201 points · 169 comments · llm_nerd

jrflo · 1791166844 · focus · HN ↗
A question for someone who knows more about F1: Is this firmware shared by all cars? Or some local server at the track the cars connect to? Why is F1 able to control individual cars like this? The article is very light on details as to what exactly is going on...
1. fishgoesblub · 1791167034 · focus · HN ↗
  The FIA has this software to stop teams from creating a form of traction control (which has been banned for a good while now)
  1. para_parolu · 1791167413 · focus · HN ↗
    Why? To increase chances of crashes that produces more views?
    nucleardog · 1791177988 · focus · HN ↗
    > Why? To increase chances of crashes that produces more views?
    Why not allow traction control? To increase crashes?
    Why not allow "lane keep assist"? To increase drivers crashing into walls?
    Why not allow "automatic braking"? To increase drivers slamming into walls and other drivers?
    Why do we still have the human in the car when a brick on the accelerator could do the same job? So when the cars crash people feel there are real stakes?
    (Presumably they've decided they want the sport to be about the drivers to some extent.)
    johnwalkr · 1791183898 · focus · HN ↗
    There’s room for debate but automated safety features on a racetrack isn’t like having them for normal highway driving. What if an edge case isn’t found in testing and automatic braking causes a crash instead of prevents it? How do you consider all edge cases when there’s 22 cars driving at 300km/h?
    Aside from that it’s preposterous to think the FIA wants crashes or less safety. A large chunk of regulations are for safety and historically the drivers fight against many of of the safety measures.

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