No KERS delay again
At one of a series of FOTA meetings at Interlagos, the prospect of calling off the implementation of the energy-recovery technology until 2010 went to a vote, according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.
Teams overwhelmingly agreed, except BMW-Sauber, who want the KERS introduction to take place as scheduled next year. FOTA votes, when immediate rule changes are concerned, require unanimity.
The smaller teams, like Toro Rosso, but also carmaker teams including Renault, are unimpressed. "The veto is a bill of six million euros for us. We have to buy a system externally," co-owner Gerhard Berger said.
Renault's Flavio Briatore said: "We have gone through the same nonsense with the quick shifting gearboxes. Today everyone has one and we are all millions of euros poorer."
Auto Motor und Sport said McLaren has already invested 30 million on KERS, while Honda's development bill is closer to 90m. "Our system has so far cost us two million," said Sam Michael, technical director of the Williams team which has taken an unique flywheel approach to KERS.
It emerged in Brazil that Toyota intends to start the 2009 season without a KERS-equipped car, while Ferrari is also lagging behind, after its initial design proved flawed and was scrapped.