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[scotty]

So let me get this straight once and for all: KERS will be back next season, but will it be compulsory or not? Everything i have read seems to point to it not being compulsory.

You gotta put your money on Mercedes having the best system really, although i guess there's always going to be the possibility that someone might have found more performance within the past year.

What of Red Bull and Lotus? Are they just going to use the Renault system? I seem to remember reading somewhere that Red Bull did start developing something.

[The_Stig_Money]

Will Williams' fly wheel be allowed with the new regs?

Williams have dumped the fly wheel, they're using battery operate KERS like all the others. Why? Dont know. This is despite them just winning an award with it.

And the new porsche hybrid car is using it (spyder?)

[Robert12010]

So let me get this straight once and for all: KERS will be back next season, but will it be compulsory or not? Everything i have read seems to point to it not being compulsory.

You gotta put your money on Mercedes having the best system really, although i guess there's always going to be the possibility that someone might have found more performance within the past year.

What of Red Bull and Lotus? Are they just going to use the Renault system? I seem to remember reading somewhere that Red Bull did start developing something.

its coming back but there is no obligation to use it as far as im aware

[CarBore]

With increase in minimum weight, that penalty much less important. But what are the other disadvantages apart from the extra cost? The only reason the KERS cars couldn't hold up to the top non KERS in 09 was because they spent too much time and money on it and not enough on aero where Brawn and RBR were supreme.

With all the top teams much more on top of aero I would have thought it would be a no brainer to have KERS on their 2011 car.

[bud]

What of Red Bull and Lotus? Are they just going to use the Renault system? I seem to remember reading somewhere that Red Bull did start developing something.

Didnt Renault use the Magneti Marelli system Ferrari used in 09?

[vaptin]

Read somewhere about the teams getting the weight distribution changed, so that it should be a clear advantage to run KERS.

[Fred_C_Dobbs]

So let me get this straight once and for all: KERS will be back next season, but will it be compulsory or not? Everything i have read seems to point to it not being compulsory....

KERS were still provided for in the 2010 regs, the FOTA simply had a gentlemen's agreement not to use it. In fact, the 2010 TR had a 15-kg increase in spec weight to allow more flexibility with ballast placement. But the teams opted to skip the KERS and allow their drivers to eat more crêpes.

It is not required for 2011. A number of teams already have announced they will do without. If the rules for its use are unchanged for 2011 -- as is believed will be the case -- its principal use will be defensive. As such, it will reduce overtaking (thank god, that's definitely something F1 could do with less of).

[scotty]

What of Red Bull and Lotus? Are they just going to use the Renault system? I seem to remember reading somewhere that Red Bull did start developing something.

Didnt Renault use the Magneti Marelli system Ferrari used in 09?

Just did some scouting - you are indeed correct.

http://www.autoevolution.com/news/magne ... 23226.html

So let me get this straight once and for all: KERS will be back next season, but will it be compulsory or not? Everything i have read seems to point to it not being compulsory....

KERS were still provided for in the 2010 regs, the FOTA simply had a gentlemen's agreement not to use it. In fact, the 2010 TR had a 15-kg increase in spec weight to allow more flexibility with ballast placement. But the teams opted to skip the KERS and allow their drivers to eat more crêpes.

It is not required for 2011. A number of teams already have announced they will do without. If the rules for its use are unchanged for 2011 -- as is believed will be the case -- its principal use will be defensive. As such, it will reduce overtaking (thank god, that's definitely something F1 could do with less of).

I was aware of the gentleman's agreement this season, yes, but i have read in several places over the course of the season that the power output is going up from 400 to 600/800kJ... perhaps that has changed, i dunno. I agree that overtaking will not be aided by that alone though (this rear wing idea should help, but i have a feeling it'll be canned on safety grounds), obviously the systems cancel each other out lap by lap - perhaps if the power/boost duration setting could be changed it might work, but that doesn't appear to be happening.

Which teams have said they aren't going to use it? I'm guessing Virgin and HRT are going to be two of em...

[vaptin]

There are quite a few changes for next year, with the banning of the double diffuser, the introduction of the adjustable rear wing, the switch to Pirelli tyres and the return of KERS. In the paddock in Brazil there was quite a bit of dissatisfaction with KERS coming back.
It was Ferrari who pushed it through, funnily enough around the time they were due to appear before the FIA World Council to face the team orders charges relating to the German Grand Prix.
To make KERS more attractive next year the minimum weight limit has been increased and as a safety net the top teams also pushed through a FOTA edict on weight distribution with between 45.5% and 46.5% front weight distribution. This cuts down the risk of a team which decides not to use KERS being more competitive. The weight distribution has also been done with one eye on the new Pirelli tyres.
Whereas teams like Red Bull and Renault did not use KERS last year, next year they definitely will. The smaller teams are annoyed that they don’t have the opportunity to be competitive without KERS – as Brawn were last year.
Also causing general unhappiness is the cost of the exercise, put at around €10 million per team and the fact that the power output from the KERS has not been increased, to make it more challenging.

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/tag/f1-technical/

[spankyham]

What of Red Bull and Lotus? Are they just going to use the Renault system? I seem to remember reading somewhere that Red Bull did start developing something.

Didnt Renault use the Magneti Marelli system Ferrari used in 09?

Just did some scouting - you are indeed correct.

http://www.autoevolution.com/news/magne ... 23226.html

Yep, MM do the actual making of the KERS, and most of the electronics for Ferrari. MM is a group company just like MES. These companies help the likes of Ferrari and McLaren spread (dare I also say "hide") some of their costs.

So let me get this straight once and for all: KERS will be back next season, but will it be compulsory or not? Everything i have read seems to point to it not being compulsory....

KERS were still provided for in the 2010 regs, the FOTA simply had a gentlemen's agreement not to use it. In fact, the 2010 TR had a 15-kg increase in spec weight to allow more flexibility with ballast placement. But the teams opted to skip the KERS and allow their drivers to eat more crêpes.

It is not required for 2011. A number of teams already have announced they will do without. If the rules for its use are unchanged for 2011 -- as is believed will be the case -- its principal use will be defensive. As such, it will reduce overtaking (thank god, that's definitely something F1 could do with less of).

I was aware of the gentleman's agreement this season, yes, but i have read in several places over the course of the season that the power output is going up from 400 to 600/800kJ... perhaps that has changed, i dunno. I agree that overtaking will not be aided by that alone though (this rear wing idea should help, but i have a feeling it'll be canned on safety grounds), obviously the systems cancel each other out lap by lap - perhaps if the power/boost duration setting could be changed it might work, but that doesn't appear to be happening.

Which teams have said they aren't going to use it? I'm guessing Virgin and HRT are going to be two of em...

In '09 there was an upside to not using KERS - it was the weight advantage. The 09 version of KERS for both Ferrari and McLaren was about 25Kgs. For the '11 season the cars minimum weight has been increased by 20Kgs (about the expected weight of the '11 rendition of KERS). FiA can't force cars to "use" KERS, but they can force them to carry the weight of it around in their cars. To a lesser degree (IMO) the weight distribution changes just add to making KERS essential if you want to be competitive.

[bud]

So if Renault use the MM/Ferrari system will Redbull also use it? Will Ferrari want their main rival to use their system? I cant see them allowing that. Which leaves Renault and Redbull looking elsewhere surely?

[spankyham]

So if Renault use the MM/Ferrari system will Redbull also use it? Will Ferrari want their main rival to use their system? I cant see them allowing that. Which leaves Renault and Redbull looking elsewhere surely?

I think it's like engines, they'd sell them if a team wants to buy them.

[texasmr2]

So if Renault use the MM/Ferrari system will Redbull also use it? Will Ferrari want their main rival to use their system? I cant see them allowing that. Which leaves Renault and Redbull looking elsewhere surely?

I think it's like engines, they'd sell them if a team wants to buy them.

Kinda like McLarens EMS? .

[spankyham]

So if Renault use the MM/Ferrari system will Redbull also use it? Will Ferrari want their main rival to use their system? I cant see them allowing that. Which leaves Renault and Redbull looking elsewhere surely?

I think it's like engines, they'd sell them if a team wants to buy them.

Kinda like McLarens EMS? .

Did u mean ECU?

[bud]

So if Renault use the MM/Ferrari system will Redbull also use it? Will Ferrari want their main rival to use their system? I cant see them allowing that. Which leaves Renault and Redbull looking elsewhere surely?

I think it's like engines, they'd sell them if a team wants to buy them.

Kinda like McLarens EMS? .

Did u mean ECU?

Yeah he got his M and E mixed up
M.E.S. McLaren Electronic Systems. And the FIA bought the contract for the control ECU. There is no controlled KERS so there is no similar situation to the ECU.