Theissen optimistic about KERS delay

As autosport.com revealed last weekend, team principals unanimously agreed at the British Grand Prix to delay the use of Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) by two years from their original start date of 2009.

It is understood that teams have subsequently all signed paperwork to support the move, and this will now be handed to the FIA for consideration.

Although FIA president Max Mosley has been keen to push for environmentally friendly technology in the sport, Theissen believes he will accept the delay because of its cost-saving benefits.

Teams do not want the expense of creating KERS devices for 2009, only to then have to design completely new ones for 2011 when all-new engines are being introduced.

"I spoke with Max about it in Monaco and at that time he said that if there is reasonable discussions and reasonable arguments and everybody agrees on that rule he would not have any problem with it," said Theissen.

"I think we can discuss that openly and then come to a route that makes sense in terms of making progress but at the same time keeping costs under control."

Theissen has said he has no doubts delaying the introduction of KERS is sensible.

"We have had a few discussions already between the manufacturers," he said. "Should we do it as scheduled now by the FIA, or should we rather do it in one step - the KERS system together with the new technology engine?

"My feeling is the second approach will be the better one. KERS, as defined in the regulations for 2009 and 2011, would be so different that you would have to design and develop it twice with all the extra costs.

"So I think it would be the right move to go and do it in one step and then of course do some other things before 2011."

Honda Racing's senior technical director Shuhei Nakamoto backed up Theissen's claim that it would be very expensive to develop KERS for 2009 and 2011.

"We have agreed that we don't want something fixed for 2009 and then change it again for 2011," he said. "We do not want to make that double effort."

The teams still want to make an environmentally friendly push, however, and have proposed bringing forward the use of biofuels to 2009, rather than their original start date of 2011.