McLaren says sorry to Mark Webber

Mc LAREN has apologised to Red Bull and Mark Webber after a software problem with an engine control unit in the Melbourne Grand Prix.

Mc LAREN has apologised to Red Bull and Mark Webber after a software problem with an engine control unit supplied by the team affected the Australian in the season-opening Formula One grand prix in Melbourne.

Webber qualified second on the grid for his home race on Sunday, but a software-related issue with his car caused him to make a poor start.

McLaren says it is working with Red Bull to prevent a repeat of the problem.

"The electronic units themselves ran without incident in Melbourne, but there was a software-related issue that meant that Mark Webber's Red Bull Racing car's garage data system had to be restarted during the formation lap," a statement from McLaren Group said. "That disrupted his preparations for the start of the race, for which Mark and the team has our apology.

"We are working together with them to prevent any recurrence."

McLaren Electronics Systems, a division of the McLaren Group that also comprises the Formula One team, supplies standard ECUs to all teams on the this year's grid.

The new ECUs were run for the first time on the track by most teams during northern winter testing in February.

The ECU, which acts as a car's primary data system, powers this season's 2.4-litre V8 engines and will also be used for the new 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged units coming in from next year.

PA