An Ethernet switch for implementing FlexRay communications between a plurality of FlexRay nodes (104a, 104b, 104c, 104d), the Ethernet switch comprising: a plurality of ports (206a, 206b, 206c, 206d) each of which is configured to receive an Ethernet data packet from a respective FlexRay node (104a, 104b, 104c, 104d), each Ethernet data packet comprising a FlexRay message, each FlexRay message comprising at least one of a data frame and a frame identification, ID, wherein a first Ethernet data packet is received at a first one of the plurality of ports (206a, 206b, 206c, 206d) no later than a second Ethernet data packet is received at a second one of the plurality of ports (206a, 206b, 206c, 206d); and characterized in that the Ethernet switch further comprises: a controller module configured to determine whether the second Ethernet data packet has higher priority than the first Ethernet data packet based on the frame ID associated with the first Ethernet data packet and the frame ID associated with the second Ethernet data packet, wherein the controller module is further configured to route the first Ethernet data packet to a first destination and the second Ethernet data packet to a second destination, the controller module being configured to route the second Ethernet data packet to the second destination no later than routing the first Ethernet data packet to the first destination when it has been determined that the second Ethernet data packet has higher priority than the first Ethernet data packet. a plurality of ports (206a, 206b, 206c, 206d) each of which is configured to receive an Ethernet data packet from a respective FlexRay node (104a, 104b, 104c, 104d), each Ethernet data packet comprising a FlexRay message, each FlexRay message comprising at least one of a data frame and a frame identification, ID, wherein a first Ethernet data packet is received at a first one of the plurality of ports (206a, 206b, 206c, 206d) no later than a second Ethernet data packet is received at a second one of the plurality of ports (206a, 206b, 206c, 206d); and characterized in that the Ethernet switch further comprises: a controller module configured to determine whether the second Ethernet data packet has higher priority than the first Ethernet data packet based on the frame ID associated with the first Ethernet data packet and the frame ID associated with the second Ethernet data packet, wherein the controller module is further configured to route the first Ethernet data packet to a first destination and the second Ethernet data packet to a second destination, the controller module being configured to route the second Ethernet data packet to the second destination no later than routing the first Ethernet data packet to the first destination when it has been determined that the second Ethernet data packet has higher priority than the first Ethernet data packet. a controller module configured to determine whether the second Ethernet data packet has higher priority than the first Ethernet data packet based on the frame ID associated with the first Ethernet data packet and the frame ID associated with the second Ethernet data packet, wherein the controller module is further configured to route the first Ethernet data packet to a first destination and the second Ethernet data packet to a second destination, the controller module being configured to route the second Ethernet data packet to the second destination no later than routing the first Ethernet data packet to the first destination when it has been determined that the second Ethernet data packet has higher priority than the first Ethernet data packet.