I have mentioned this in my race report of the Bahrain Grand Prix, but I want to draw more attention to it here, since I think it’s a very curious subject that has been little discussed so far this season.
Formula One has introduced this year an energy-saving device known as Kinetic Energy Recover Systems, or KERS, that is supposed to show off how the series is moving toward environmentally relevant technology. KERS is also supposed to be making use of the fabulously quick development of the series, which improves car technology at a much faster rate than any car manufacturer’s laboratory can, thanks to the competition every two weeks that demands car updates in F1.
But so far this season, no KERS car has won a race. On Sunday in Bahrain, only three KERS cars made it into the points, and the first of these was Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren Mercedes, which finished only fourth. So the message being sent out by F1 at the moment is that its hybrid cars may be more environmentally friendly than in the past, but they sure are a lot slower.
Bahrain was a track where KERS was supposed to be more important. But while it did provide for more interesting racing – with the KERS cars just leaping past the others on occasion, with Hamilton’s passing moves, or even Kimi Raikkonen’s pass on Timo Glock, for instance - over the length of the race they just did not pan out. And it was not ALL down to the double diffusers – since again the Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel did a better job than all but one double diffuser car.
So it will be interesting to see how long this state of affairs lasts before the KERS cars begin to take the upper hand and prove that F1 really is a great laboratory. Sure, KERS on road cars is not there to induce great speed, or even improved speed. But it IS there for that in F1. The series will have to start proving it can improve with the KERS, since the goal is advance its development.
The biggest embarrassment on this level has to be the last and second last place finish of the two BMW Sauber cars, as BMW was the team pushing most for KERS.
Of course, the news also came out this weekend that the Formula One Teams Association may well push for a complete ban of KERS all together. But I wonder what a move like that would do for the image of the world’s most advanced form of auto racing?
Interestingly, just why KERS cars are so far behind is something that the other rules situation could be responsible for. That is to say, Norbert Haug, of Mercedes, actually said that the good result for McLaren was due to KERS, among other things:
“This was a step forward, no doubt,” Haug said. “Likewise I think the nature of this racetrack at one of our home races here in Bahrain and Lewis’s driving skills helped us as much to achieve this result as our KERS hybrid, which is worth nearly half a second per lap around here.”
But that doesn’t answer for the Red Bull’s success without the double diffuser.
Is Formula One becoming more and more complicated? In any case, the season itself is fantastically interesting. Another Jenson Button victory in a Brawn, and very well done indeed.
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