Renault: KERS dangerous and expensive
Renault chiefs have launched a scathing attack on the introduction of KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems) in Formula One this year - claiming they are dangerous and too expensive. As teams continue preparations of the devices in pre-season testing, Renault team principal Flavio Briatore has labelled the use of them in Formula one as a 'terrible mistake'. And his technical director Bob Bell has expressed fears of a KERS accident this season - with perhaps a mechanic suffering an electric shock like happened to a BMW mechanic during testing last year. Renault are scheduled to introduce their own KERS for the first race of the season in Australia, but that has not stopped Briatore and Bell criticising the idea of using them.
Williams unlikely to use KERS regularly
Williams is unlikely to run with KERS regularly this season because of concerns about the weight of its in-house system. The team had originally targeted next week's Turkish Grand Prix for its KERS debut. But despite making good progress with developing its flywheel system, director of engineering Patrick Head has admitted that it will be difficult to integrate it into the Williams FW31 without having a negative impact on its handling.
BMW drops KERS for rest of 2009
Mario Theissen on Saturday announced that BMW Sauber has decided to drop KERS for the rest of the 2009 season. The German squad recently ceased using the controversial energy re-use technology in order to focus on aerodynamic improvements, and Theissen confirmed at Silverstone that the policy will also continue throughout the season's final nine rounds. "We have in the past weeks considered what is possible in terms of aerodynamic development with KERS and without KERS," said Theissen. "We decided that more progress can be made without the installation of KERS.
Domenicali: KERS a costly flop for F1
Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali says the introduction of the Kinetic Energy Recovery System in Formula 1 has been a multi-million flop. Although most of the teams objected to it, the KERS system was introduced in Formula 1 for this season, but just Ferrari used it in the British Grand Prix. Only Ferrari, McLaren, BMW Sauber and Renault have raced with KERS at some point this year, although other teams have also spent millions developing it. BMW, who was the only team who refused to join a veto on KERS last year, has decided to give up on the system. Domenicali said there was no denying its introduction was a mistake.
Force India puts KERS debut on hold
The Force India team has ruled out introducing its KERS system at the Spanish Grand Prix, as the Silverstone-based squad has decided to focus its development elsewhere. The Mercedes-powered team had originally planned to introduce the Kinetic Energy Recovery System for the start of the European season, but team boss Vijay Mallya admitted the plan has been scrapped. Force India has instead decided to focus on the development of aerodynamic components, as the team believes KERS would not be an advantage.
McLaren: Circumstance scuppered KERS
McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh believes that a 'perfect storm' of circumstances is to blame for KERS failing to be a success in Formula 1. With only Ferrari running with KERS at last weekend's British Grand Prix, and teams set to drop the technology for 2010, several bosses have claimed that the introduction of the technology was a flop. And although Whitmarsh agrees that the huge investment in KERS has been a waste, he thinks it was purely circumstances caused by new regulations that resulted in the experiment not working.
Finally:
FOTA agrees to drop KERS in 2010
The Formula One Teams' Association is pushing for the sport to abandon KERS entirely next year, after agreeing that the technology should be dropped as it is now too expensive. Following a limited take-up of the energy recovery device for 2009, members of the teams' organisation have voted in favour of abandoning it entirely next year on money grounds. While the move has not been universally welcomed, with BMW Sauber in particular once again keen for it to be retained, the majority decision by FOTA means that the move has now been put into action. BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen said: "We have voted in favour of KERS but, as with all the other FOTA decisions so far, we will go with the majority."