[FsQGF1Mp]

If it were not for BMW, KERS would have been delayed until 2010.

Instead, they protected their interests, spent a bucketload of money (as did any other team producing their own KERS) and it backfired spectacularly. For them especially. Only 3 cars are running KERS this weekend which tells you all you need to know, really.

Which is hilarious as their non-KERS car is faster, which only seems mid-grid at best.

To me that looks pretty idiotic, considering 'cost-cutting measures' and all.

[seperalem]

I thought 5 cars are running it (McLaren, Renault, and Hiedfeld), with the possibility of Kubica also using it.

[Usendyduexy]

BMW are pretty hilarious this year - when they are not annoying...

[Rabbahpuptiopp]

I thought 5 cars are running it (McLaren, Renault, and Hiedfeld), with the possibility of Kubica also using it.

Renault, Kubica remove KERS in Shanghai

Only three drivers will use KERS for the remainder of the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, after Renault and Robert Kubica removed the device from their cars overnight. As a result, only McLaren's drivers and Nick Heidfeld will run with the energy-recovery systems on Saturday and Sunday.

Ferrari had already opted not to run KERS this weekend, after concerns about reliability, while Robert Kubica was expected to run it after running it during practice yesterday. Renault's decision comes as a surprise however, but the move may be linked to them fitting a new diffuser to the rear of their car, following on from the Court of Appeal's decision on Wednesday to approve the controversial 'double decker' diffusers.
http://www.manipef1.com/news/articles/9111/

[Usendyduexy]

Now 50% of the cars are DD, right?

[LillyPlay]

McLaren and Renault are half-assed almost untested attempts. I'd give it 3-5 races before there are proper solutions.

[Olphander]

I'm really surprised that the top teams have seen the DD tested by the other teams since at least 3 months ago, and they didn't even partially develop something similar?

[U2DnBGFE]

Now 50% of the cars are DD, right?

No.

Only 4 cars (2x Brawn +2x Williams) have a real DD diffuser, 3 others have a different design with a higher middle section (2x Toyota and Lewis) and 1 one car has a half arsed DDD (Alonso).

[U2DnBGFE]

I'm really surprised that the top teams have seen the DD tested by the other teams since at least 3 months ago, and they didn't even partially develop something similar?

Yep, especially BMW and Ferrari. What exactly are they waiting for?

McLaren and Renault already got interim solutions and with that they leapfrogged half of the cars that were better than them.

[Usendyduexy]

BMW might, right? Obviously the new DD are not the only problem, as Ferrari and Red Bull are also in front of them, not only the now ten DD cars. The car is slow, that's all. This will be a long season for BMW.

[U2DnBGFE]

BMW might, right? Obviously the new DD are not the only problem, as Ferrari and Red Bull are also in front of them, not only the now ten DD cars. The car is slow, that's all. This will be a long season for BMW.

The car isn't slow, as proved by Kubica in Oz.
BMW are having, again, problems warming the tires. Ferrari suffer about the same problem to a certain extent.

[MzTT]

By the looks BMW's F1.09 seems like the most conservative car and maybe this is what has been fateful for them. BMW really has no excuses - they abandoned 2008 campaign in order to get an advantage for 2009, but in reality they are even further behind than in 07-08. This is seriously disappointing. Considering their early concentration on 09 they must have been a frontrunner in 2009 immediately. Since 2006 they have been mostly around the levels of midfield and "close to the top". What is the missing link that could turn BMW into a genuine frontrunner?

[Usendyduexy]

They are too conservative. To win in this sport, you need to be revolutionary IMO. You can end like Hinda did in 2007, yes, but you can become very strong like Brawn GP.

[U2DnBGFE]

By the looks BMW's F1.09 seems like the most conservative car and maybe this is what has been fateful for them.

You mean fatal.

[MzTT]

They are too conservative. To win in this sport, you need to be revolutionary IMO. You can end like Hinda did in 2007, yes, but you can become very strong like Brawn GP.

I thought BMW's design in 2008 was quite risky and in the beginning of winter testing it seemed like a flop. Generally the car turned out to be a bit inconsistent though, struggling on some circuits.

Maybe their complicated 08 design forced BMW to opt for a "conservative way" for 2009 to really have a wider setup window and have better development options. It's interesting that in winter that car seemed quite promising, so what has happened? Somehow the development has got stuck. Already in 2008 there were whispers that BMW's development pace is not as good as others.

[IteseFrusty]

I thought BMW's design in 2008 was quite risky and in the beginning of winter testing it seemed like a flop. Generally the car turned out to be a bit inconsistent though, struggling on some circuits.

Maybe their complicated 08 design forced BMW to opt for a "conservative way" for 2009 to really have a wider setup window and have better development options. It's interesting that in winter that car seemed quite promising, so what has happened? Somehow the development has got stuck. Already in 2008 there were whispers that BMW's development pace is not as good as others.

Time for some new blood.

[Kafuuil]

I dislike bmw after the way they split with williams, and their very me first attitude. The manner in which they set out on their own was very much sticking two fingers up at frank and saying "well if u can't build us a fast car we'll do it ourselves" and I've been waiting for them to fall flat on their face.ever since. And now it seems to have happened......huzzar!

[animilius]

So Kubica was right all along. BMW shouldn't have given up on 2008 after their win in Canada, they shouldn't have concentrated on the 2009 car once they fulfilled their 2008 goal. They should have kept on pushing, because you can't plan the future, you have to grab any opportunity you get. And I am not being a smart ass - I am just reciting what Kubica said all along last year. He was right. They wasted a golden opportunity for nothing.

[Usendyduexy]

You are right, Dr. Krogshoj. They were not like Honda and should have pushed harder. Title WAS possible.
Now it is very, very unlikely.

[stadiaKab]

I've said before that KERS was a bad idea, foisted upon the teams for exceedingly insignificant reasons, moreso than the one of appeasing environmentalist groups and Green Party-mavens to make Formula 1 look like it was sensitive to such matters. So, to avoid better ideas, such as that taken by ALMS, Max decided to go with the brain fart known as KERS, which has and will continue to be more trouble to fiddle with (for both teams and organizers) than it's worth.

I say, Stop this mess, NOW! Get rid of KERS and concentrate on more realistic methods, real-world performance, and actual savings for the teams and everyone else.