Ferrari is the first Formula One team to ditch the problematic KERS energy-boost system, electing not to use it for this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.
Ferrari had a failure in the KERS system on Kimi Raikkonen's car during practice for the previous race in Malaysia earlier this month, and while it went ahead with the technology for the race at Sepang, it has elected not to do so for Shanghai.
"We need to understand what happened to the system from the point of view of safety and reliability," Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said. "It has delivered a performance benefit, but if it is not running safely and reliably, we can no longer take the risk of running it."
The KERS technology stores energy from braking, which can then be used at driver discretion to provide a brief power boost for up to 6 seconds per lap. The teams that have used KERS so far have had little success, despite added straight-line speed, and the device does add extra weight to the car.
BMW's Robert Kubica will use the technology in China, having opted out in the opening two races. Teammate Nick Heidfeld had used it in both Australia and Malaysia.
Shanghai will also witness the first attempts by rival teams to mimic the controversial diffuser designs used on the Brawn, Toyota and Williams cars. Those diffusers survived a legal challenge this week, putting the onus on other teams to come up with similar designs to match the clear speed advantage of the three teams already using it.
Renault and McLaren were two teams expected to alter their diffusers for Shanghai, though a true re-working of their designs will have to wait until next week's grand prix in Bahrain, and possibly not even then.
An entirely new design would require an overhaul of the bodywork and aerodynamic package, and Ferrari is one team that will wait until a return to the European races to match the two-tiered diffuser, which channels and distributes air under the cars.
That meant Brawn, Toyota and Williams should retain their edge in Shanghai.
"If we do a good job, we should be ready by the time we return to Europe for the Spanish Grand Prix: at least, that is our current target," Domenicali said.
Renault's Fernando Alonso was more concerned with tire grip in Shanghai, slamming the decision to use the super-soft compound as the option tire this weekend on the hard-wearing circuit.
"I think it is the worst decision they made in a long time, because it is a ridiculous tire for here, for Shanghai," Alonso was quoted saying.
"I don't know if Bridgestone made the decision or the FIA, but they have to reconsider this type of decision because we look ridiculous," he said.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily April 17, 2009)
