Formula One news

Williams 'flat out' with KERS

The Williams team is constantly developing its KERS device with a view to it making a debut as soon as possible, according to technical director Sam Michael. The Grove-based team's unique version of the system is yet to be used on a race weekend this year, although as much as an extra half second on some circuits could make all the difference for Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima.

Sam Michael, Williams technical director

"We've been quite quick in the opening few races, but we haven't delivered in terms of points and that's been very frustrating," Michael admitted, with the team currently lying eighth in the constructors' championship. "Our rivals are catching up quickly and it will be difficult to maintain a development edge over them during the year, but that's our job and we'll keep pushing."

The KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) of Williams is different to those used on other cars in the way it stores its energy; other systems used in the field work by storing kinetic energy from the engine in a battery, before being able to deploy this energy to yield an added 80 horsepower for 6.6 seconds per lap. The Williams version of KERS varies in that the energy is stored in a flywheel as opposed to a battery, which could give them an advantage not experienced by others currently using KERS (Ferrari, McLaren, Renault and BMW).

"As the rate of development slows, KERS will take on a greater significance," Michael continued. "We're working flat out to get it onto the FW31 as soon as possible, but I can't say when that will be at this stage. As soon as it's ready, it'll be on the car."

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