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Although the KERS incidents and pitfalls, first predicted in this column almost seven months ago, have of late come too horrifically close to realisation for comfort, there exists little doubt that Formula One's determination to make things work - safely - will ultimately prevail and that cars thus equipped will hit 2009's F1 grids.
Whether, though, racegoers in Australia, Malaysia or Bahrain, as the first three events on the provisional new calendar - and flyaway races all - will be treated to the new 'green' technology is a separate issue entirely as the sport's governing body has made KERS systems optional.
More than a few folk in the Hockenheim paddock, ranging from drivers through technical directors to team principals, expressed doubts in this regard both on and off the record in the wake of fire evacuations at Red Bull Racing's Milton Keynes facilities (note plural). The subsequent electrocution of a BMW Sauber technician during Jerez testing can hardly have changed many minds.
A mechanic is shocked during the first hybrid test by BMW Sauber © XPB |
Little known at the time was that BMW had already experienced 'one or two' incidents during testing at its private Miramas test track in southern France - Mario Theissen at the time refused to elaborate, as doing so would divulge which of the trio of KERS options BMW had settled for, but that is now a matter of record. Had these been in the public domain during the German race weekend, no doubt even more scepticism would have resulted.
