Ferrari 'struggling' with KERS development

Ferrari's engine technical director Gilles Simon says the Italian squad are struggling with the development of the Kinetic Energy Recovery System.

KERS will be introduced in Formula One next season, but some teams have been having a hard time with the initial development and some doubt it will be ready in time for the start of 2009.

Simon backed the view that it is unlikely all teams will have a reliable system at the start of the season, and the Frenchman admitted his own team are struggling to come to grips with it.

"The Kinetic Energy Recovery System is a complex subject, which finds us dealing with a lot of new and complicated areas, while ensuring that we still devote all necessary efforts into continuing our usual development programme on the current year car," said Simon.

"It will be really challenging to run this system next year. We are learning every day, but we are struggling and I think that all teams will struggle to run the new system reliably right from the opening race of the 2009 season.

"Next year, with KERS as well as the other rule change allowing the use of an electronic front flap adjuster (on the front wing,) electronics will play a very big role and the common ECU will have to be fully understood in order to operate these new elements successfully."

Simon also told Autosprint magazine that he thought not all teams will benefit from the use of KERS equally.

"Managing to recharge the system under braking shouldn't be taken for granted," he said. "Just like the system's reliability shouldn't be taken for granted. Same goes for that 80-BHP figure seen in the race, will that be the same at the end of the race?

"Those who get the project right will have an enormous advantage on their hands."

autosport.com

 

This reminds me of Fast and the Furious with the NOS, and I think has no place in F1. So much more cost cutting.

 

This KERS system is the dumbest thing for F1.

 

Well a certain FA will be pleased about this news.

 

We have got to get away from political correctness.

Give them slicks, V-12s and whatever else they want!

 

I highly enjoy the development of KERS. I think it's going to add a lot more variability in the sports. Which is desperately needed.

 

+100 !!

 

KERS is a great idea. If development stops in F1, the series will die. I'm excited to see the ideas and solutions the teams developed.

 

+1

 

So are the teams now essentially developing three different types of cars? The current one for 2008, one for 2009 with KERS and one for 2009 without (but with a weight penalty)? So much for spending less money!

 

Teams like Toyota and Honda will have a huge advantage as they have plenty of mass production engineers to draw from.

Force India etc are in serious hurts. Like they are not now ?

 

why can't they go back to basics? someone posted V12s and slicks, as well as reduced aero. i think that would be great. most of FIA's 'cost cutting' isn't really working.

 

Like i have said many times."turbo era" regs is the answer.KERS is like an electric version of nitrous.Since it's electric,all that torque will feel like one huge boost(60 kw).Yet it doesnt appeal to me.Maybe because it's making an F1 car a hybrid.