KERS: To Use or Not To Use? That Is The Question

This year F1 teams will have the option of using a Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS), this will recover and store kinetic energy generated by the car during braking.

Drivers will then be able to push a 'boost button', giving them an extra 80bhp, for about seven seconds per lap.

This sounds great, but you have to take into account how the weight of the system will impact on the car’s weight distribution.

Winter testing showed KERS can be unreliable and there are safety issues with the device as well. Track marshals are apparently going to be issued with special gloves for handling the cars after an accident, and we all know about mechanics receiving electrical shocks.

We know that Renault, Ferrari, and McLaren have the intention to use KERS in Australia, and that Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams have declined.

Red Bull and Torro Rosso haven't said, but seeing as Red Bull is using Renault engines, they might be using their KERS, while Torro Rosso could use Ferrari's.

Force India hasn't said whether they will be using KERS or not.

Most teams have said they will make a decision about using KERS on a circuit-by-circuit and driver-by-driver basis. BMW have done just that as they're going to be fitting KERS to Heidfelds car, but Kubica will run without the device in Melbourne. This will be a direct comparison and hopefully give us a good idea if KERS makes a difference.

One final thought is how the use of KERS is going to be portrayed to television viewers, guess we will have to wait and see.