Coulthard: KERS timescale 'pretty tight'

Formula One's ruling body, the FIA, plans to introduce the KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems) from next year and some teams have already started running with it.

There have been concerns, however, about the chances of it being ready for the start of 2009, with development having proved tricky so far.

Red Bull suffered a scare with one of the systems in their factory, while a BMW Sauber mechanic was injured when he was electrocuted after he touched a car during testing at Jerez.

And Coulthard believes teams are running a tight schedule to have their systems ready in time.

"As has been well documented elsewhere, there are concerns about isolating the electrical charge that is stored within the car and the volatility of the chemicals used in the lithium batteries," Coulthard wrote in his column for ITV.

"Formula One is all about the technical challenge, but usually the risk is limited to the drivers. Quite clearly KERS has opened up another area.

"You can bury your head in the sand, and it's not politically correct to talk about it, but while we are going through the development phase there is a risk that extends to people at the factory and trackside personnel.

"I know there are working groups looking at how to manage and overcome these issues, so hopefully a satisfactory solution will be found, but the timescale is certainly pretty tight to be ready for the start of next season.

"Part of my role for next year will be to assist with the development of Red Bull's KERS system. I'll be wearing a full rubber body suit to make sure that I'm safe... Formula One driving suits will become like fireproof condoms!"