BMW drops KERS for rest of 2009

Mario Theissen on Saturday announced that BMW Sauber has decided to drop KERS for the rest of the 2009 season.

The German squad recently ceased using the controversial energy re-use technology in order to focus on aerodynamic improvements, and Theissen confirmed at Silverstone that the policy will also continue throughout the season's final nine rounds.

"We have in the past weeks considered what is possible in terms of aerodynamic development with KERS and without KERS," said Theissen. "We decided that more progress can be made without the installation of KERS.”

With McLaren also not using KERS this weekend, and Renault having quietly dropped its system some races ago, only the two Ferraris feature active KERS units at Silverstone.

But having voted recently to retain the option of using the technology in 2010, Theissen insists KERS cannot be characterised as ‘a flop’ for F1.

"There has been success in the transfer of technology (to BMW's road car division)," he said. "Our engineers are supporting the research and development in Munich and that will continue for some time. What has been learned can be used not only for hybrid cars, but also for electric and conventional cars," said Theissen.

But he confesses that, without a rule mandating KERS, the systems are destined to ‘disappear’ from Formula One.

"I regret that, because we would have had a chance to position Formula One as a technology innovator."


F1 : BMW drops KERS for rest of 2009 - FIA - F1-Live.com