view photoMario 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.”
With McLaren also not using KERS this weekend, and Renault having quietly dropped its system some races ago, only the two Ferraris feature active KERS units at Silverstone.
But having voted recently to retain the option of using the technology in 2010, Theissen insists KERS cannot be characterised as ‘a flop’ for F1.
"There has been success in the transfer of technology (to BMW's road car division)," he said. "Our engineers are supporting the research and development in Munich and that will continue for some time. What has been learned can be used not only for hybrid cars, but also for electric and conventional cars," said Theissen.
But he confesses that, without a rule mandating KERS, the systems are destined to ‘disappear’ from Formula One.
"I regret that, because we would have had a chance to position Formula One as a technology innovator."
Comment 1 - 6 of 6
When it was leaked to the press that Ferrari had a technical veto with the FIA since 1998,the other teams response was "what kind of governing body agrees to its rules being approved-or not-by one competitor?"Did the FIA offer it to Ferrari?Did Ferrari seek that right?if so, why was it granted by the FIA?.About that time Adrian Newey came up with an energy recovery system for McLaren which was approved by the FIA, then got mysteriously banned.Its another very good reason that Max should go as it was on his watch.
Mad max Mosely
gets all his ideas from his dreams and then thinks all he has to do is order the teams to follow his dreams,since when does common sense prevail in his world.
It maybe that he is right to try and rein in spending via a cap system but lets be sensible here, how can you possibly cut back from say 250-200 mill a year to 40mill in one year.maybe over 5 or 6 years and why down to 40mill where the hell did that figure come from.
Most of all he has to realise he is playing around with a sport that has a huge fan base and those fans pay the money that oils the wheels it is their sport as well and not his personal domain.
It's time that he and the poison dwarf took their millions and ran off to some deserted island and left this sport to people who have some real idea of what it is all about.
KERS is an expensive mistake. How is it that Max wants budgets reduced and has the teams develop something as worthless as KERS. Ferrari appears to be the only one using it this weekend and I'm guessing they don't know what else to do. I love Ferrari but this year's car belongs in the trash with McLaren's car.
If they wanted the teams to innovate and expand the use of hybrid technology they should have simply opened the rules to allow any form of electrical storage & propulsion and restrict the amount of fuel each team can use per GP. Wait? Did that make sense? Can I have Max's job?
Perhaps KERS was a flop? I dunno...but it did make things slightly more exciting than usual. Although it still should be considered. After all, the teams should give it all another shot after this season with more winter testing. Although we haven't seen what Brawn can do with KERS (it's doubtful that at this point they're even considering it, although it may do them justice to look at it in case Red Bull charge back).
Brawn GP have proven you can win without KERS. The FIA shoul have done more research before bringing KERS into Formula 1.
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account