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[What's Burning?]

Not sure if anyone's posted this yet...

Seems Red Bull don't use KERS other than for the start. They have a light weight use once system - well that's what they have used here in Melb.

Scarbs has an article on it here.

Red Bull using “start only” KERS?

After qualifying today it became apparent that Red Bull’s drivers did not use KERS during qualifying.

Asked why not, Mark Webber said that the team had internal reasons why not.

But tonight it has emerged that the team may have a lightweight KERS system which is designed for use off the startline only. This is necessary because KERS confers about 7 metres advantage on a car using it over one that isn’t on the start straight.

Without any kind of KERS, the Red Bull would be vulnerable off the startline. Lewis Hamilton in the McLaren starting alongside Sebastian Vettel on the front row and would have the advantage.

This “start only” system would give a gain in terms of weight distribution and packaging because such a system requires only a small battery, which is trickle charged, compared to the 20 kilo system that Red Bull’s rivals use. One of the reasons why the normal KERS batteries are large and heavy is for reasons of rapid charging.

It appears, from investigations, that at least one team currently without KERS is working on a similar system to Red Bull’s.

However, Red Bull may need a full KERS system later in the season, when the other leading teams get close to them on downforce. The 4/10ths it gives will come in useful then.

VERY interesting... so he better be a over full second ahead after the first lap and never look back, or else, that RB tactic may be fragile.

[f1ea]

??? What kind of response is this? Did Alonso not use KERS and the wing in Qualifying?
I know you have a distaste for Lewis, but I'm simply pointing out that the 4 tenths he did get over Button came despite a mechanical issue with his car.

who's talking about Lewis??
i'm talking about kers and the wing.

Leave the Lewis paranoia for when the controversies start

[Hexagram]

How is the RB KERS charged for the start?

Either they are fully charged for the start of the race or they get charged up on the parade lap.

But in 09 they were always fully charged at the start. I remember Alonso in 09 losing 4 places at the start of Monza only get them back before the first corner.

[spankyham]

It will be ironic in the extreme if the MRW or DRS or AWR or ????? ends up being a nemisis for Red Bull. Given the pace they've shown, perhaps now we can understand why they were so keen to get it banned.

As long as Lewis can stay within a second on the opening 2 laps of Seb, then, all he needs to do after that is use his (insert acronym for stupid flappy rear wing thingy) and his KERS to reel back the too fast RB. I'm sure it will be very annoying for Red Bull if Lewis can use those 2 devices to keep nipping at the heels of the much faster RB7.

[What's Burning?]

It will be ironic in the extreme if the MRW or DRS or AWR or ????? ends up being a nemisis for Red Bull. Given the pace they've shown, perhaps now we can understand why they were so keen to get it banned.

As long as Lewis can stay within a second on the opening 2 laps of Seb, then, all he needs to do after that is use his (insert acronym for stupid flappy rear wing thingy) and his KERS to reel back the too fast RB. I'm sure it will be very annoying for Red Bull if Lewis can use those 2 devices to keep nipping at the heels of the much faster RB7.

Totally agree It's obvious now! tomorrow's race is looking to be epic.

[spankyham]

How is the RB KERS charged for the start?

Either they are fully charged for the start of the race or they get charged up on the parade lap.

But in 09 they were always fully charged at the start. I remember Alonso in 09 losing 4 places at the start of Monza only get them back before the first corner.

The light weight Red Bull KERS has no charging mechanism. The teams are allowed to charge the batteries as they leave the pits. And of course this is the "green" effect so many people are baying for - batteries that are good for one use

[What's Burning?]

??? What kind of response is this? Did Alonso not use KERS and the wing in Qualifying?
I know you have a distaste for Lewis, but I'm simply pointing out that the 4 tenths he did get over Button came despite a mechanical issue with his car.

who's talking about Lewis??
i'm talking about kers and the wing.

Leave the Lewis paranoia for when the controversies start

Please do accept my apology, since I specifically mentioned Lewis in my response to your claim that 4 tenths wasn't a lot of time difference between Hamilton and Button. I simply wanted to have you know that there were mechanical issues with Mr. Hamilton's car.

OH... and no need for paranoia when I've got time numbers to look at. Ahhh math... it's universal.

[vlad]

Don't forget, Red Bull are fastest in sector 3!

[Hexagram]

It will be ironic in the extreme if the MRW or DRS or AWR or ????? ends up being a nemisis for Red Bull. Given the pace they've shown, perhaps now we can understand why they were so keen to get it banned.

As long as Lewis can stay within a second on the opening 2 laps of Seb, then, all he needs to do after that is use his (insert acronym for stupid flappy rear wing thingy) and his KERS to reel back the too fast RB. I'm sure it will be very annoying for Red Bull if Lewis can use those 2 devices to keep nipping at the heels of the much faster RB7.

That would be some funny s***.

[FRAFPDD]

Vettel has decent/poor starts, Hamilton has good starts, Vettels KERS is underpowered and small, Hamiltons is whole shabang. Might just get the job done by the first corner, that is, the getting infront job, still has to keep the finger behind.

[Juliet P]

Vettel has decent/poor starts, Hamilton has good starts, Vettels KERS is underpowered and small, Hamiltons is whole shabang. Might just get the job done by the first corner, that is, the getting infront job, still has to keep the finger behind.

Hehe, "the finger".

[scotty]

Wow, you have to hand it to Vettel, what a lap! He was incredible in the final sector. Alonso lost a whole second to him in S3 alone!! Great job by Petrov and good to see Kobayashi solidly in the top 10. Are all Q3 runners starting on softs tomorrow? Schumacher might be the man to watch out for in the race imo, he can start on the hards which will be a far more ideal strategy, and the Mercs are the quickest in a straight line.

I daren't make any predictions for the race, except for one - the guys starting off the racing line (ie on the even side of the grid) are gonna have a tough time given all the rubbish that is apparently off line down the pit straight...

[spankyham]

Wow, you have to hand it to Vettel, what a lap! He was incredible in the final sector. Alonso lost a whole second to him in S3 alone!! Great job by Petrov and good to see Kobayashi solidly in the top 10. Are all Q3 runners starting on softs tomorrow? Schumacher might be the man to watch out for in the race imo, he can start on the hards which will be a far more ideal strategy, and the Mercs are the quickest in a straight line.

I daren't make any predictions for the race, except for one - the guys starting off the racing line (ie on the even side of the grid) are gonna have a tough time given all the rubbish that is apparently off line down the pit straight...

I think they clear the marbled rubber - which is most of the problem you might be referring to. Also, all the teams have said the tyres aren't throwing marbles as much - probably because Melb is not an abrasive track (like Barca) and because of the track temperature.

I think there's also supposed to be a little overnight/early morning rain which might also help that a little.

[cap-dude]

Red Bull using a start only KERS system, clever clogs.

KERS is only meant to provide 2 or 3 tenths a lap anyway. I was actually thinking about this the other day, and considering the amount of money it takes to develop KERS, it would be considerably more cost effective to drag 2 or 3 tenths out of the aero package. Plus with no KERS, cars would be more reliable and having less of those braking troubles. So why use KERS. Most teams didn't in 2009, so why change that in 2011.

Course, I remembered the advantage the KERS cars had of the start in 09. But with Red Bull, its not like they need that extra few tenths. They can afford to have a more reliable car. It's smart move on their part I think.

[bud]

McLaren are gods