Compulsory KERS to spice up F1 ‘show’ in 2011
In meetings at Sepang this week, lifting FOTA's current gentleman's ban on the energy recovery system was discussed.
More meetings are planned for the weekend of the Spanish grand prix next month.
Among the biggest criticisms of KERS last year was the huge cost of developing the systems, the fact that it was not compulsory, and the questionable advantage of carrying the heavy units that can only be deployed a few seconds per lap at 400 kilojoules.
Already on the table to address some of these problems is that the systems will be more powerful, developed by a single supplier and run by all the teams.
Another suggestion is that its usage would be limited to a certain number of button presses per race, in order to aid overtaking.
Reports have said Renault is keen for KERS to return, but perhaps with its own system, while Mercedes' Ross Brawn said the debut of a new engine formula for 2013 is a complication.
"We would prefer to look at something that is planned and integrated with the new powertrain in 2013," he said.
Sir Frank Williams, although concerned that accommodating KERS alongside the new big fuel tanks will make the cars "longer than a London bus", commented: "There's general agreement it should have a place in formula one.
"I believe it should be compulsory or not at all," he said at Sepang. "It's appropriate if it's not too expensive."
And McLaren's Whitmarsh added: "A lot of the teams couldn't afford KERS next year, the majority couldn't. We need to find something that is affordable."
04/03/10 According to a rumor in the Sepang paddock on Saturday afternoon, KERS could be set to return to F1 in 2011.
The topic was discussed during team boss meetings at the Malaysian circuit on Friday.
No 2010 car features the energy recovery technology, following a gentleman's agreement among the ranks of the teams association FOTA.
But the official technical regulations still permit KERS.
It is rumored that Magneti-Marelli, a Fiat subsidiary and electronics specialist, has already expressed interest to FOTA about supplying a standard KERS unit to all teams for the 2011 season.