Inside One of the Most Advanced Control Systems in High-Performance Motorsport
Read the full blog to see what goes into making this system work under race conditions, and why the approach matters far beyond motorsport.
Published
14 NOV 2025
Est. reading time
2 min
One of the most complex systems in a modern racing car is the power unit. This is far more than just a combustion engine. It is a highly integrated hybrid system that combines a turbocharged internal combustion engine with a battery-based energy store, both of which must work together seamlessly to deliver maximum performance under demanding conditions
The control system manages battery deployment and recharging through the MGUK and MGUH systems, deciding exactly when to draw energy and when to store it. It monitors temperatures across multiple components, controls injector timing with extreme precision, and manages cooling requirements in real time. At the same time, it is processing driver inputs and blending them with live system data to optimise power delivery without compromising reliability.
This coordination happens continuously, with data inputs arriving from across the powertrain. Thermal states, throttle position, electrical load, and component wear all feed into the control logic. The system must remain responsive while also anticipating the next corner, straight, or gear shift. Timing and accuracy are critical.
This level of control is achieved by constantly adjusting multiple parameters as conditions change, often in fractions of a second. It is a perfect example of how a control system can manage complexity, balance competing performance requirements and ensure that every component works in harmony to achieve the best possible outcome.
Although this is an extreme example from motorsport, the principles apply across many sectors. In aerospace, similar control strategies ensure hybrid propulsion systems operate efficiently and safely. In the energy sector, they manage the balance between supply and storage in grid systems. In advanced manufacturing, they optimise the performance of high-precision machinery, balancing speed, accuracy and energy use.
These systems may differ in application, but they all require the same core capabilities: accurate sensing, high-speed data processing and predictive decision-making. Whether you are controlling fuel flow at 300 km/h or managing turbine output in a distributed grid, the engineering goals are closely aligned.
The underlying challenge is the same: take a complex system with multiple interacting parts, gather accurate real-time data, and use it to make decisions that maximise performance, efficiency and reliability.
Motorsport shows how far this can be pushed, and those lessons are now being applied to industries well beyond the racetrack.
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