BMW wants weight limit raised
BMW Sauber is to make a push to increase the minimum weight limit of Formula 1 cars in a bid to prevent heavier drivers getting penalised too much
The Hinwil-based outfit has had to split the deployment of its Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) in Melbourne this weekend. Nick Heidfeld is to run it, while the heavier Robert Kubica cannot because the extra unit hurts the weight distribution of his car.
On the back of a number of drivers having had to lose weight over the winter because of the introduction of KERS, BMW Sauber's situation confirms that heavier drivers are at a disadvantage.
BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen has said that his team will now propose raising the minimum weight limit of F1 cars from its current 605 kilogramme limit - which includes the driver.
"We will bring it up," said Theissen about raising the minimum weight limit. "It is a concern. Having KERS in just one car indicates already that it is not just a KERS issue.
"KERS is ready to race, and I am sure our KERS is on the light side. It is a regulatory issue which penalises big drivers.
"We have to make sure each driver gets the best package in the race depending on the track characteristics so we will have to decide on a race-by-race basis. For the future we would support an increase in minimum weight."
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