BMW call for increased chassis weight for KERS

[John S]

BMW Sauber would like to see Formula One's minimum car weight increased.

Despite the voluntary introduction of relatively heavy Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems’ this year, the FIA has left the existing minimum car weight of 605kg the same.

But because the figure includes the weight of the driver, the KERS factor has led to widespread weight loss this winter, with some commentators concerned that F1 is heading the route of ski-jumping.

"In order to prevent Formula One from becoming a jockey's competition, we are pushing for an increase of the minimum weight in the future," team boss Mario Theissen revealed. 
 
BMW's F1 team is an interesting example, with the very tall (and thin) Robert Kubica unhappy about his KERS disadvantage, and diminutive team-mate Nick Heidfeld further strengthening his advantage by also losing weight this pre-season.

Theissen on Monday said the team's KERS system is ready to debut at Melbourne, but he clarified that the final call about the technology's deployment in 2009 will be made "on a driver-by-driver, circuit-by-circuit basis."

E.A, Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

[Scott]

I agree.  I think that if any teams run KERS, then the others should have to have the additional ballast as well and raise the car weight even if they aren't running it.  Of course, something like that would have to have unanimous agreement from all the competitors.  If they don't agree, then I guess the others may decide against running KERS this year.