F1 teams offered low-cost KERS

Sam Michael

(GMM) The possibility of bringing KERS back to the formula one grid in 2011 was discussed at a meeting of the FOTA alliance on Wednesday.

Williams' technical director Sam Michael revealed that Ferrari and Renault have offered to make their existing KERS technology available to other teams for no more than 1 million euros.

"Renault will supply anyone who asks for it on the grid," the Australian is quoted as saying by the BBC. "Ferrari will supply anyone who is running a Ferrari engine."

Michael's comments follow the Grove based team's announcement that it has upped its stake in its own flywheel KERS company to 78 per cent.

It is believed that if KERS is given the green light to return next year, Williams intends to use its own system.

But Michael said both Ferrari and Renault want their 1 million euro KERS to be much more powerful than the units seen in 2009, otherwise "they are not prepared at this stage to commit".

Less powerful KERS systems are already allowed by the technical regulations, but FOTA members voluntarily agreed last year not to fit the units in 2010.

Michael said the issue could be finalized by next weekend's Spanish grand prix.

"I think that by Barcelona, the FOTA executive is due to try and make a decision on KERS for 2011. It's all pretty split at the moment on that," he revealed.