BMW Rules Out KERS Advantage at Monza

With all drivers agreeing that the cars fitted with the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) will have a considerable advantage compared to the other F1 challengers at Monza, considering the circuit's high-speed characteristics, BMW's Mario Theissen begs to differ. The German official played down such worries, arguing that charging the unit around the track will be quite a challenge for the KERS-powered cars.

Of course it releases some extra 60 to 80 horsepower per lap on the long straights of Monza, but it also needs to charge itself during the venue's braking zones, insisted Theissen. And here's where it becomes tricky for Ferrari, McLaren and even Renault – as the Enstone based team confirmed they will bring back the unit for Monza – as there aren't plenty of braking zones on the Italian track.

“KERS could be an advantage on the straight, but only if you get enough energy back on the lap. I think this will be difficult here. There are not enough hard braking zones so I expect the KERS car not to have the full energy per lap available. I don't think KERS will make too much of a difference,” said Theissen, whose F1.09s will not benefit from the technology on Sunday.

If the German official is to be right, it would mean great news for championship leaders Brawn GP and Red Bull Racing. Talking to the media on Thursday, Sebastian Vettel admitted his worries over the KERS-powered cars. In his own view, they will be the ones who'll fight for the win, rather than the Brawns or the Red Bulls.

“With no testing and no experience of this circuit, we don't know. Either we have a good surprise or a bad surprise tomorrow for all of the non-KERS cars! Overtaking the KERS cars is never easy, and in a place where you have more straights than anywhere else it is even harder,” said Vettel yesterday.