Comments on: KERS – another costly mistake by Mosley

By: Andy Monis

Andy Monis — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:33:49 +0000

KERS was and is the wrong technology. If the environment is the motivating factor then the engine regulations should be opened up to allow alternative forms of power such as Fuel Cells.
If over taking was the major issue the button on the steering wheel should just allow you to use 20k rpm (instead of the 18k limit) for the permitted time per lap.
Personally I think having spec engines is wrong, and would like to see teams investigating other avenues for power, such as the diesel engines that have made the their mark at Le Mans recently.

By: Alan Dalton

Alan Dalton — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:28:28 +0000

I often wonder what kind of madness takes hold of the FIA regarding ludicrous introductions such as KERS. These types of energy recovery device may have a place in everyday motoring but applicability to road car technology is surely not the sole purpose of Formula 1. ‘Win on Sunday, sell on Monday’ will always hold true, irrespective of the level of technological crossover.

It seems perfectly obvious that KERS would be a pointless money-wasting exercise. If, as was planned, all teams were to run KERS by 2010 then every driver would push their boost buttons at the same time and everybody would stay in exactly the same positions. Pointless. If it was the FIA’s intention to stimulate overtaking then the solution is simple, reduce aerodynamic levels to the early- to mid-1980s (sans ground effects), maybe even use an 80s-style front and rear wing as a template. That way following cars could stay close enough through corners to be able to slipstream down the straights and throw it up the inside at the next corner. (Providing the FIA doesn’t penalise the overtaking driver for risking an accident, of course…).

What saddens me most of all about KERS is that the careers of many drivers are being thrown away in its wake. While the KERS teams have undoubtedly produced poor cars by their standards, this must in part be down to the diversion of effort caused by the packaging headaches which the KERS system has created. But what use is that to Heikki Kovalainen who, after a patchy first season with McLaren, really needed to prove his worth at the top level and instead ends up trundling around near the back? Likewise, Nelsinho Piquet’s big chance has probably passed him by when he needed to consolidate his position this season. Will Robert Kubica, no less, be regarded in the same light as he was prior to BMW’s disastrous 2009 campaign? A driver can very quickly become yesterday’s news and not every driver’s career will receive the miraculous resuscitation that Jenson Button’s has received…

By: Ray

Ray — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:39:10 +0000

One only had to look at the Chrysler Patriot, built for Le Mans some years ago, using a KERS type power package, and which never managed to actually run under it’s own power. Chrysler poured millions into it and couldn’t make it work, or safe.

By: Bryan Hills

Bryan Hills — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:38:02 +0000

Max Mosley needs to grow up. Dancing on his grave = fiddlesticks. He said he would not seek re-election, then someone called him a nasty name and he said “Shant” I will stand. Max, go and get on with your sex games and leave F1 to us.

By: Robin Richardson

Robin Richardson — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:37:23 +0000

I hate to say I told you so in an earlier post but………..

Mosley, speaking in an interview with the Mail on Sunday, said that while he would rather stand down in October, he was prepared to do whatever was required in the face of a potential conflict with Formula 1’s car manufacturers.

“They made the mistake of dancing on my grave before I was buried,” Mosley told the newspaper. “It’s no good the teams getting a PR agency to claim I am dead and buried when I am standing here as large as life. I am under pressure now from all over the world to stand for re-election.

“I don’t actually want to,” he added. “I feel I am a little bit too old.

Should I sue him for plagiarising my ideas or should I asked him for a job since we both seem to be on the same wavelength?

As to the protege asked about by Chris Brooke, well Carlos Garcia of the Spanish Federation seems to be peddling a similar line. This isn’t done and dusted just yet.

By: Kenny

Kenny — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:46:37 +0000

I like Rupert.

But, if we must have “green” in motor racing, then the engine builders can continue their efforts to build more efficient engines and the oil companies can pull finger and use some of their zillions to develop cleaner fuels and alternate sources of (clean) energy.

Nigel has my vote.

By: Rupert Suren

Rupert Suren — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:30:32 +0000

Who cares about the Greens and their global warming crap? Not so long ago they were telling us of a new ice age. Typically these nut eating Peruvian nose flute players haven’t a clue.
Trees need carbon gases to live and to produce oxygen. Surely it is therefore logical to drive a bigger engined car, park up against a tree and rev the bollocks off it. The two advantages are that a) you are saving the planet by feeding a tree, and b) you can gas a tree hugger.

By: brian lofts

brian lofts — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:48:33 +0000

I just wish that FOTA had carried out its threat/pormise to set up a new championship.
What could Max and Benie have done about it! With no teams and no cars they would be out in the cold….with their lawyers of course!!
There are plenty of excellent circuits in Europe and elsewhere and a couple in the US who could host the new series given the opportunity at the right price.
The sooner max and Berne disappear and leave it to those interested in the SPORT and not just making money, the better!

By: pc

pc — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:38:14 +0000

Excellent article and emphasises the loss of focus on the core of F1 – exciting competition between top teams and drivers. FIA (or FOTA for that matter) should be facilitators, no more. When they become the story the objective of racing is diminished.
As a cameo of the point, and considering myself a reasonably experienced GP watcher, at a couple of live grand prix this year I had considerable difficulty in distinguishing between the cars in teams, doubly so when there are 4 Red Bull liveried cars. The number on the front cannot be seen easily. Helmets are low and similar in some cases. Camera pod colour is not good enough for the general public. The simple expedient of a number on the rear wing side plates would make it much easier for the public to see who is where. The loss of advertising revenue does not appear to be an issue for Indycars who present their numbers in that location admirably. Suggest FIA gets that done as something simple and actually productive.

By: mark ryan

mark ryan — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:34:34 +0000

The retirement of Mosley can’t come soon enough, however, until the FIA constitution (or equivalent- I’m at the end of a 14 hour work day) is rejigged to prevent another despot, it will all recur in a few years. Mosley is just Balestre coated in Teflon or vaseline, take your pick.

As to Bernie- a succession plan might be a good idea. If Bernie happens to shuffle off suddenly, imagine the power vacuum which will be created……
it certainly won’t be pretty, and nor will it be brief.

I’d be interested to hear from both as to what the words “best interests of the sport” means to them.
So far, when I check the Thesaurus, neither “Bernie”, nor “Mosley” is mentioned under “sport”.