Magneti Marelli Makes KERS Offer to F1 Teams for $1 Million

Magneti Marelli has reportedly made an offer to the Formula One teams for the new Kinetic Energy Recovery System, due to be introduced in the series next year. The KERS units was initially regulated by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) for the 2009 season, but the teams signed up for a Gentlemen's agreement for not using the units in 2010.

During its first stint in the Great Circus, the Magneti Marelli KERS was designed for Ferrari and Renault. The first and only win of an F1 car powered by an unit designed by the Sesto San Giovanni-based company came in the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix, courtesy of Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

Having an entire year to redevelop the unit, Magneti Marelli's KERS will come much cheaper now, its price being in the vicinity of US $1 million per season. Apparently, several teams have already showed interest in purchasing the unit, including the newly-entrants Lotus, HRT and Virgin.

Obviously, Ferrari will be the first ones to have access to it, as Magneti Marelli is a Fiat subsidiary and electronics specialist that has been partnering with the Scuderia for years. BMW Sauber-Ferrari are also believed to have contacted the Italian company for their KERS, as well as Red Bull Racing (whose Renault engines have been coupled to the technology back in 2009, through the Renault F1 Team).

Toro Rosso will also be powered by Magneti Marelli's units next year, as they are supplied with F1 engines by Ferrari.

So far, this is the first public offer a manufacturer is making for a KERS unit for 2011, a year in which the technology will continue to be optional. It is believed mandatory KERS will be implemented by the FIA for the 2013 season, once the new engine regulations will kick off.