The Motion Applied technology at the heart of every F1 car
Formula 1 is the ultimate test of technological excellence and driver skill. But for many years it struggled in its mission to maintain the right balance between these two driving principles. Systems such as traction and launch control made driver ability less critical to the outcome of races – but a ban on these systems proved almost impossible to police.
At the same time, the sport's governing body, the FIA recognised that the costs of competing were becoming unsustainable for some teams. To solve one problem and assist in the solution of the other, the FIA put out a tender in 2006 for a standard set of electronics for F1.
Why did Motion – who have a team in F1 – get the contract? Because McLaren Racing and Motion Applied are run as separate companies and we have been supplying complete control systems to F1 since 1993, we were already a trusted supplier to many of the teams and we pioneered the use of model-based software at the start of 2000, several years before this approach to control system development was introduced into the series automotive markets. This approach has been a critical part of the success of the Standard Electronic Control Unit (ECU).
In November 2022 we were selected by the FIA as the sole suppler of the SECU in the 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 seasons of the FIA Formula One World Championship, taking the partnership into its 22nd year.
