KERS - Gamesmanship
Discussion
Interesting that most of the F1 players are coming out saying that they might not run kers at the start of the season. I wonder if this really does indicate that they are all having problems or if its just a bit of gamesmanship. You know say it isnt ready and your probably not going to use it so the competition considers not using it as well if their not quite ready...
McLaren were saying last year that their simulations gave KERS an advantage only on circuits with a big long straight on it. Thus the teams may very well only use in selected races anyway.
+ why risk running with a complex non race-proven system that's only optional anyway until you have got all the other new bits properly sorted?
I predict that playing safe & banking the points is where it will be - those who fail to score heavily will be the 1st to take the KERS risk.
+ why risk running with a complex non race-proven system that's only optional anyway until you have got all the other new bits properly sorted?
I predict that playing safe & banking the points is where it will be - those who fail to score heavily will be the 1st to take the KERS risk.
There is obviously some sledging going on but thee has been pressure from all teams apart from BMW to make it illegal. That tends to suggest they feel they are getting some positives out of it or that they want the other teams to waste money and time chasing dreams.
I'd be a little unhappy with the safety aspect if I was a mechanic having to work on the cars in the pitlane during a race. Both mechanical and electronic systems are nothing more than massive batteries. All that energy looking for a way out.
We had a number of mechanics injured last season - too many - by minor errors in pressure situations. Whilst the KERS safety systems might look good on paper, I bet the same could be said of the Ferrari traffic lights which might well have cost Massa the championship.
I can't see the point of Kers. It's not green as they are developing systems which have no application to road cars. It seems from reports that the big manufacturers are all going for KERS systems on their road cars which bare no realtionship to those they are putting on their F1 cars.
What a waste of money. It adds to the cost without increasing the spectacle and, just to make things even sillier, in a crash . . . well, let's hope we never find out.
I'd be a little unhappy with the safety aspect if I was a mechanic having to work on the cars in the pitlane during a race. Both mechanical and electronic systems are nothing more than massive batteries. All that energy looking for a way out.
We had a number of mechanics injured last season - too many - by minor errors in pressure situations. Whilst the KERS safety systems might look good on paper, I bet the same could be said of the Ferrari traffic lights which might well have cost Massa the championship.
I can't see the point of Kers. It's not green as they are developing systems which have no application to road cars. It seems from reports that the big manufacturers are all going for KERS systems on their road cars which bare no realtionship to those they are putting on their F1 cars.
What a waste of money. It adds to the cost without increasing the spectacle and, just to make things even sillier, in a crash . . . well, let's hope we never find out.
I think BMW are the only team seriously considering running KERS in Melbourne. I know for certain at least 1 of the other big teams won't use it. In this new cost saving era, KERS is a fecking big waste of money for the teams. Do people seriously think that KERS in F1 is a meaningful green statement or an aid to road car development?
it depends on the characteristics of the track - not all are suited to KERS so there's more to it than whether the system is ready or not.
in terms of development tho, there are all these stories of delaying or losing KERS in an effort to save money. however, imo it's far too late for that. it's as if the teams that haven't invested much are saying come on guys lets not bother. the ones that have invested and are confident in their system, are quite rightly saying keep it
course, all this could have been avoided in the first place if max wasn't a idiot (or i guess if FOTA unanimously voted against it at the start?)
in terms of development tho, there are all these stories of delaying or losing KERS in an effort to save money. however, imo it's far too late for that. it's as if the teams that haven't invested much are saying come on guys lets not bother. the ones that have invested and are confident in their system, are quite rightly saying keep it
course, all this could have been avoided in the first place if max wasn't a idiot (or i guess if FOTA unanimously voted against it at the start?)
BMW's comments about not racing the unit are curious. Ultimately though, I doubt a team will make a decision based on what another team says. They'll all evaluate their own positions and make their decision. Maybe there was more opportunity for gamesmanship in the past when things were less methodical.
pablo said:
apparently Williams had a KERS system on show at the NEC which may mean that they are already onto phase 2 as the display will surely not be the latest design on view for all and sundry? could be a dark horse for some early points?
The KERS system at the NEC wasn't the Williams system, it was a rival mechanical system that reading between the lines is the one Mosley wants to implement next year.Derek Smith said:
I can't see the point of Kers. It's not green as they are developing systems which have no application to road cars. It seems from reports that the big manufacturers are all going for KERS systems on their road cars which bare no realtionship to those they are putting on their F1 cars.
I seem to recall Toyota complaining about how limited the F1 KERS system had to be when it was first announced - significantly less advanced than what they were already using in existing road and race cars.Derek Smith said:
Now BMW have lost their Credit Suisse income d'you think it possible that they might want an end to expesive KERS reserch and development?
Depends how much they've already spent on KERS, how close it is to completion (or at least first track running spec) and how much faster it makes the car. As I said no different to any other F1 performance project. Most teams are taking a conservative view of KERS and not committing themselves 100% to getting it on their cars. If it was worth a lot of laptime things would be very different.Forums | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff