Todt: F1 needs KERS to be credible

Jean Todt

FIA president Jean Todt has underlined the importance of Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) making a return to F1 to boost the sport's green credentials and make it "credible".

After engineers struggled to get the energy-recovery technology to work effectively without compromising car design last year, the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) collectively decided to stop using KERS in order to cut costs. However, FOTA is now in talks to reintroduce the technology in 2011, possibly with a single supplier and standard unit.

"I am not happy the teams voted unanimously against using KERS for the 2010 season," Todt said in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport. "I am personally committed to having this position reconsidered for 2011."

In 2013 F1 will completely review its engine regulations, with KERS, turbochargers and smaller capacity engines likely to be made compulsory. However, Todt believes that would be too long to wait while the rest of the automotive industry pushes on with developing green technologies.

"We cannot afford to go two and a half years while doing nothing," said Todt. "As head of the FIA there needs to be pressure in this direction; it's the only way we can be credible."

In the same interview he also revealed that he is open to pursuing a second four-year term as FIA president, despite reports saying he intends to step down in 2013.

"That's not true," Todt said. "Nevertheless, I am not thinking today about the second term of office. My priority is to use my time as effectively as possible to reach my goals." ESPN F1