Technical Talk: Why KERS can be key at Monza

Tue Sep 08 07:59PM

As Formula One heads to one of the lowest downforce tracks on the calendar for this weekend's Italian Grand Prix, the teams with KERS look set to enjoy a distinct advantage.

The closely-grouped field this season has created major variations in the relative performance race by race, with the comparative importance of KERS, downforce efficiency and tyre performance having a major part to play in the positioning of each team on the grid and in the race running order at each event.

The Spa-Francorchamps circuit was a relatively low downforce track - the first of the season - which allowed teams with efficient downforce to come to the fore as this seemed to have greatest relative importance.

That put Force India, Toyota and BMW up the order but Ferrari were able to also add their KERS advantage to give them the edge. In terms of tyres, Bridgestone chose the closely-matched medium and soft options, thus limiting the difference between the two compounds.

Monza, with its even lower drag configuration requirements, will see teams reducing downforce by a further 10 to 15 per cent to reduce drag, with short-chord wings and smaller flaps and add-ons.

The track will again suit the teams with efficient downforce, but we could see another change in the order as the level of aerodynamic performance will depend on who has designed the most efficient low-drag wing package.

On top of that, the challenge for every team will be to balance these new packages quicker than their rivals. Most teams have tested some elements of the low downforce set-up, either on Friday at Spa or in private straight-line aero tests, but in the past a pre-race test at Monza enabled teams to get their low-downforce cars balanced before the race weekend. This time they will have a much more limiting timeframe.

In terms of tyres, the same Bridgestone compounds as used in Spa will be used again, again limiting the difference between the performances of the two choices. This time, the typically high track temperatures should suit teams who protect their tyres - although this could flip if the sun stays away as although it is a high-speed circuit there are no real aggressive high-speed turns to increase tyre temperature when air temperatures are low.

But while those with the most efficient aerodynamics packages will come to the front, the factor expected to play the biggest part in deciding the front-runners this weekend is KERS - which is why Renault have brought it back into play again after ditching it several races ago.

Renault's executive director of engineering Pat Symonds claims KERS is worth around a quarter of a second at Monza - a significant amount in such a tight field. Interestingly, he also believes it will be worth even more during qualifying, because the power boost can be saved up for a release on the main straight just before the start of the timed lap and then used for another boost during the lap itself.

This must therefore make the KERS cars most likely to be at the front of the grid and, on top of that, KERS will be a big advantage off the grid because of the long run to the first corner. Overtaking is already tough at Monza, and if a KERS car is in front at the start it will be even tougher, because the boost can be used throughout the race to keep ahead.

That means Renault and McLaren may be in with a shout if their low-downforce packages work well, but considering their performance at Spa, Ferrari look to have the head-start. And with new man Giancarlo Fisichella not only having to learn the car but also quickly get to grips with how to take advantage of KERS, it seems Raikkonen is a good bet to take another victory