For those who are interested in the KERS systems due to be introduced on the cars next season, Reghardware has a good article on McLaren's latest tie-up regarding their system, plus educated guesses at what the other teams are doing.
Williams FW30 with 2009 wings but no KERS as yet
As readers of this blog will know, I am somewhat cynical on the subject of KERS and its relevance to F1, so my delight in the quoted comment from Toyota engine expert, Luca Marmorini, can be imagined. When asked if the company's experience of KERS for road-going cars was useful in designing a system for F1, he said: "No". Now there is a man after my own heart, straight to the point, no nonsense, brief in the extreme.
Oh, I know that the article is summarizing his reply but it suits me to imagine him giving such a straightforward answer. If only all F1 team spokespersons were so succinct.
I like the tone of the article too. After going into some detail about what type of system each team is likely to use, the writer becomes as dubious as I am regarding implementation of KERS. "That's the theory," he writes and then points out that no one knows how many of the teams will actually have a system ready to be used at the first GP of the year. Most of the teams are asking the FIA to delay the introduction of KERS until 2010, with only Honda and BMW happy to proceed with it in the coming season. That is because these two are furthest ahead in its development, of course, but I wonder at the wisdom of their breaking FOTA ranks even so.
Mosley's stated intention is to have a standard KERS system for 2010 - and that makes it a waste of money for each team to design its own for next year, especially if the systems have no relevance for road cars. Considering how much hot air is given to the subject of cost-cutting in the sport at present, it seems insane to spend money on the development of something that will have to be thrown away after a year's use.
But that is how things are in Max and Bernie's F1 - plenty of lip service but not a great deal of reality. KERS and the push-to-pass button are anathema to the spirit of F1 and the teams should cut their losses now by refusing to have anything to do with it. If Max is so set upon the sport appearing green, let him come up with something less expensive and a bit more relevant to competition.