Schu, not Ferrari, backs KERS for F1

(GMM) Ferrari advisor, occasional test driver and former champion Michael Schumacher does not back the Italian team's apparent opposition to the introduction next year of energy-saving KERS technology.

Piero Ferrari, the famous marque's vice president, ten per cent owner and the only living son of founder Enzo Ferrari, said on Wednesday that he disagrees with some of formula one's rule directions, including rev-limited and frozen engines, and KERS, where braking energy will be electronically re-released by a driver's 'boost button' in 2009 and beyond.

In the Italian magazine Autosprint, Ferrari questions the rules, saying they leave established engine experts "twiddling their thumbs" not only because of the engine freeze, but because outside experts are needed for KERS.

But Schumacher, 39, insists that the technology is "very important" for F1.

"(Ferrari's) road car department and other road car companies will benefit hugely from it, and the environment will as well," the German told the British newspaper The Times.

In fact, Schumacher accepts the principle that F1 can do even more to contribute to the solutions to the world's environmental crises.

"People say F1 should do more but you cannot change the world in one day," he continued.

"It's not possible. You have to do it in steps that are achievable and you have to understand the problem.

"I think that it has been understood, this issue, and formula one is reacting to it," he added.