Formula1 Gator

With Ferrari deciding to run without KERS in the Chinese GP, it became more confusing; Is KERS good or bad?

KERS stands for Kinetic Energy Recycling System. It is a system that saves the energy produced from car braking and store it in a battery to be used later in the form of a horse power boost (about 80HP per lap). The KERS is optional this season but it will be obligatory from 2010.

Only 4 teams used the KERS (Ferrari, Mclaren, Renualt and BMW) while the rest decided not to do so as to reduce expenses required to develop such system while a standard KERS system will be provided next year when it is obligatory.

The KERS was of a little benefit in Australia but that changed to some extent in Malaysia because of the longer straights and it is expected to add more performance in China that have one of the longest straights in the season. Worth to mention that KERS cars have showed amazing acceleration at the race starts.

On the other side, Ferrai had encountered reliability problems with it and decided to drop it in China. Also Nick Hedfield isn't using a one as he faced some problems with the car balance with KERS.

So High cost, Reliability and Difficult car setup are some of the cons of KERS, But what is the good side of KERS other than a few extra hp per lap?

As many of the Formula1 technologies, it is expected to see KERS used in road cars. Formula1 has always been the source of many technologies used nowadays in our cars. We see them as basic things but some time in the past it was a controversial technology used in Formula1. And we have to remember that car companies arn't investing millions in Formula1 just for our entertainment. But it is about branding in the first place and research comes second!.

So may be KERS isn't the best for Formula1 but I am sure it have a bright future. Yes teams are complaining but they agreed to used it in 2010!.