Sam Michael: Decision to use KERS in 2011 season will be taken after Australian Grand Prix
Williams’ technical director Sam Michael has said in his recent interview that the decision of using the Kinetic Energy Recovery System in the coming season will be taken after the 2011 Australian Grand Prix.
He said that the KERS will be useful for the team in this season. On the other hand, Rubens Barrichello and Pastor Maldonado have not used the System on the fourth day of Barcelona testing.
KERS return to Formula 1 has different impacts on the teams as lots of drivers have shown concern over the technology and criticised its return to the game while some have said that it will help the teams and will save a lot of energy wasted otherwise.
Barrichello was the first one to point out that KERS is the main problem for the Williams’ team as its behaviour in the car is unpredictable.
He said, “We need to decide quickly what we are going to do. It is an uncertain factor for us; one day it gives us no problems and the next day it gives us hundreds of problems.”
He further said that the team will be better off not using it as he has much experience behind the wheel to win races without it as well.
The new recruit, Pastor Maldonado has also spoken against it and said, “We had a KERS problem which unfortunately cost a few hours’ track time and we only did two short runs.”
He further added that these problems are good for the team as it is happening in the testing seasons and not in the season. He also said that he is anxious to get in the car and practice it.
On the other hand, Sam Michael said that it will be too early to decide anything against the device as it has not been actually used in the season. He further explained that the problem was not with the battery or the KERS but was in between it.
When asked about the System failure as Barrichello was mentioning, Sam said, “We will just get through the problems as quickly as we can. I don't have an answer to that. I know what part failed but I don't know why.”
Apart from the discussion, the Williams team removed the KERS from the car on the fourth day of the Barcelona test as Barrichello piloted the car in the morning session and Maldonado in the afternoon session. Maldonado did face some mechanical problems in
the car but it was not as big a concern as KERS.
Nevertheless, Williams team will have one more day of testing before hitting the season and it will be their only chance to decide about the System.
Tags: