Force India Considered KERS Axe For Silverstone

Force India reportedly considered dropping KERS at Silverstone this weekend as the blown exhaust clampdown takes its full effect.

Force India considered removing KERS after off throttle ban

Photo by: xpb.cc

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport said the Silverstone based team was concerned that the handling effect of the off-throttle blowing ban would be further exacerbated by KERS, the system that reuses power collected under braking.

"It will upset the brake balance so that the benefits of KERS are reduced," admitted team manager Otmar Szafnauer.

But Force India ultimately decided to keep KERS on the car following last-minute simulator tests.

"In the braking zone, we will definitely have less downforce on the rear, making the car unstable. But we will get used to it, hopefully quickly," said Adrian Sutil.

And the German driver said braking is not much of a worry at Silverstone anyway.

"There are only three hard braking areas," continued Sutil. "We have tested it in the simulator and it was fine, we will run as normal with KERS."

McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh, who acknowledged the "problem" of KERS alongside the clampdown, confirmed that the British team's car will also be using its energy recovery system as per usual at Silverstone.

But Auto Motor und Sport said Red Bull might ultimately decide to do without its system.