Fota agree to scrap Kers for 2010
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Ferrari team boss Domenicali talks about the Kers system
The Formula One Teams' Association has agreed to abandon the energy storage and recovery system (Kers) for the 2010 season, BBC Sport understands.
The optional Kinetic Energy Recovery System can give cars a power boost, but only Ferrari and McLaren are now still using it seven races into the season.
Fota will drop it because of its poor uptake - and pressure from motorsport's governing body, the FIA, to cut costs.
Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali said it was a "logical decision".
When asked by BBC Sport F1 pundit Eddie Jordan ahead of the Turkish Grand Prix on Sunday if Fota teams had agreed and signed by democratic decision to abandon Kers next season in an earlier meeting, Domenicali confirmed that was the case.
"That is our position jointly," he said. "Of course we are the ones that are using it now with McLaren.
"We have invested a lot of money in it and it's difficult for the public to understand how there are cars with Kers and cars with no Kers.
"I think in the view of helping new teams to get into F1, and in order to save money, that is a logical decision - even if we have invested a lot of money in that project."
Under the rules at the start of this season, Kers - which provides drivers with an extra boost of power for 6.7 seconds per lap - would also be in place at the start of 2010.
The power - 80bhp - was also due to be increased next year, meaning all teams would have had to have had it in order to remain competitive.
But that will no longer be the case.
BBC Sport understands that Ferrari are desperate to drop their system because it has been so unreliable for them, while McLaren's package developed by Mercedes has proved more successful.
Though McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh is a fan of Kers, for a variety of reasons, he accepts that dropping it may be the only way forward.
"F1 has to demonstrate it has some green credentials," he told BBC Sport. "But, at the same time, in this economic climate everybody is looking to save costs.
"It has been a huge effort talking about new entrants and making sure these smaller teams stay in F1.
"McLaren's position is we would like to see Kers retained - but we also accept that we have to be responsible members of the F1 community and if the majority don't want to have Kers, or can't afford Kers at the moment, then we have to be realistic."
BMW Sauber and Renault both ran with Kers, which adds extra weight to the car, at the start of the season but both teams stopped experimenting with it after little success.
Championship pacesetters Brawn GP have no plans to introduce Kers to their cars.
Fer Fecks Sake !!!
Can we oust spanky please !?!
Ferrari team boss Domenicali talks about the Kers system
The Formula One Teams' Association has agreed to abandon the energy storage and recovery system (Kers) for the 2010 season, BBC Sport understands.
The optional Kinetic Energy Recovery System can give cars a power boost, but only Ferrari and McLaren are now still using it seven races into the season.
Fota will drop it because of its poor uptake - and pressure from motorsport's governing body, the FIA, to cut costs.
Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali said it was a "logical decision".
When asked by BBC Sport F1 pundit Eddie Jordan ahead of the Turkish Grand Prix on Sunday if Fota teams had agreed and signed by democratic decision to abandon Kers next season in an earlier meeting, Domenicali confirmed that was the case.
"That is our position jointly," he said. "Of course we are the ones that are using it now with McLaren.
"We have invested a lot of money in it and it's difficult for the public to understand how there are cars with Kers and cars with no Kers.
"I think in the view of helping new teams to get into F1, and in order to save money, that is a logical decision - even if we have invested a lot of money in that project."
Under the rules at the start of this season, Kers - which provides drivers with an extra boost of power for 6.7 seconds per lap - would also be in place at the start of 2010.
The power - 80bhp - was also due to be increased next year, meaning all teams would have had to have had it in order to remain competitive.
But that will no longer be the case.
BBC Sport understands that Ferrari are desperate to drop their system because it has been so unreliable for them, while McLaren's package developed by Mercedes has proved more successful.
Though McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh is a fan of Kers, for a variety of reasons, he accepts that dropping it may be the only way forward.
"F1 has to demonstrate it has some green credentials," he told BBC Sport. "But, at the same time, in this economic climate everybody is looking to save costs.
"It has been a huge effort talking about new entrants and making sure these smaller teams stay in F1.
"McLaren's position is we would like to see Kers retained - but we also accept that we have to be responsible members of the F1 community and if the majority don't want to have Kers, or can't afford Kers at the moment, then we have to be realistic."
BMW Sauber and Renault both ran with Kers, which adds extra weight to the car, at the start of the season but both teams stopped experimenting with it after little success.
Championship pacesetters Brawn GP have no plans to introduce Kers to their cars.
Fer Fecks Sake !!!
Can we oust spanky please !?!
This FOTA position has the feeling of being a bargaining chip, always intended to be disposable as part of a Grand Compromise with Numbnuts.
Although it would require a bit of work by each of the teams, they could probably use a spec KERS next year without a great deal of difficulty or additional expense.
My guess is that, in their meetings, FOTA have spent maybe six minutes discussing their collective position on KERS for next year.
Although it would require a bit of work by each of the teams, they could probably use a spec KERS next year without a great deal of difficulty or additional expense.
My guess is that, in their meetings, FOTA have spent maybe six minutes discussing their collective position on KERS for next year.
zac510 said:
This is definitely a reflection on the economic climate not on the technology itself.
It's a shame because as much of a sportscar fan I am, F1 has the most money to push into technology like this.
What I don't understand is why use this type of technology? What is it's benefit?It's a shame because as much of a sportscar fan I am, F1 has the most money to push into technology like this.
The only use I have seen KERS to have, is to ensure faster-cars' remain behind them.
Take vettel in china - for the love of god, he could not get past massa.
Take barrichello today - he could not get past kovalainen.
No doubt more examples are available too...........
Oust The Spank, NOW!
Take vettel in china - for the love of god, he could not get past massa.
Take barrichello today - he could not get past kovalainen.
No doubt more examples are available too...........
Oust The Spank, NOW!
Fire99 said:
zac510 said:
This is definitely a reflection on the economic climate not on the technology itself.
It's a shame because as much of a sportscar fan I am, F1 has the most money to push into technology like this.
What I don't understand is why use this type of technology? What is it's benefit?It's a shame because as much of a sportscar fan I am, F1 has the most money to push into technology like this.
Initially, I was very keen on this technology being bought forward.
On a different note, I forget where I read this; but a few city buses are to have a variation of KERS installed. Obviously to power the bus along - not to "turbo" it.
Although................. a possible substitute to F1 maybe? ha!
Fire99 said:
zac510 said:
This is definitely a reflection on the economic climate not on the technology itself.
It's a shame because as much of a sportscar fan I am, F1 has the most money to push into technology like this.
What I don't understand is why use this type of technology? What is it's benefit?It's a shame because as much of a sportscar fan I am, F1 has the most money to push into technology like this.
For it to be truly useful it needs to be available for more than 7 secs per lap, and should be fitted to all cars IMO.
Rubens couldn't pass Kovalainen today due to him not having 7th gear. No doubt one driver having KERS didn't help, but it wasn't the only reason the faster car couldn't pass.
Rubens couldn't pass Kovalainen today due to him not having 7th gear. No doubt one driver having KERS didn't help, but it wasn't the only reason the faster car couldn't pass.
Road car technology is well ahead of what KERS has to offer in terms of energy recovery/conversion green credentials, it always was and always will be a PR exercise on a racing car. When you have drivers jumping out of cars scared of being electrocuted, team members having to wait until they go through a discharge procedure before they can touch the car and drivers breathing in toxic gasses from a failed battery, it doesn't take a genius to work out it's not safe and was rushed through into use well before it's a viable proposition, just from the safety aspects. We've been very lucky so far no one has been seriously hurt with these systems.
zac510 said:
Fire99 said:
zac510 said:
This is definitely a reflection on the economic climate not on the technology itself.
It's a shame because as much of a sportscar fan I am, F1 has the most money to push into technology like this.
What I don't understand is why use this type of technology? What is it's benefit?It's a shame because as much of a sportscar fan I am, F1 has the most money to push into technology like this.
Alfa_75_Steve said:
I'm surprised Toyota haven't sorted a decent system - it would do wonders for the marketing of the Prius if they could stick 'Hybrid Synergy Drive' on the side of their cars.....
Yes but you don't know what is goin on in the background of their techy department. As Toyota are pretty much seperate to Toyota Motorsport in Germany.Alfa_75_Steve said:
I'm surprised Toyota haven't sorted a decent system - it would do wonders for the marketing of the Prius if they could stick 'Hybrid Synergy Drive' on the side of their cars.....
Who would've though that the greenies could end up driving the closest thing to an F1 car on the road? Madness, I tell you.Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff