KERS exceeding budget at Ferrari

While FOTA has been busy trying to considerably reduce costs as of next year, the new KERS regulations have become an element for spending. It was already known that Ferrari were having trouble with its development, the team have now openly said that its development costs are greatly exceeding the budget.

Maranello, 17th December 2008 - On the occasion of the pre-festive meeting in Maranello the Scuderia Ferrari technicians spoke about the KERS, the Kinetic Energy Recovery System, where electrical regenerative brakes will be used, and which is part of the 2009 regulations.

"It's a great challenge," the technicians said, but as the cost "has exceeded our expectations." Technical Director Aldo Costa, Engine and Electronics Director Gilles Simon and Planner Nikolas Tombazis said: "As far as the engine and the electronics are concerned costs went down, but with the KERS we spent much more than we had planned."

"We're working a lot on the energy recovery system. We're a bit behind on our schedule, but our goal is to be ready with a working KERS for the first race, which will be held in Australia. Meanwhile we're also appraising the car without KERS."