Heidfeld, 7th and last driver equipped with KERS

Nick Heidfeld, driving the F1.09, will be equipped with a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) for the first Grand Prix of the season this weekend in Australia. His teammate Robert Kubica will not have the device on his car.

The information was confirmed not only by Heidfeld but also by the team director, Mario Theissen.

So why such a disparity between the two drivers with apparently two different strategies? While Heidfeld may be the lightest driver on the 2009 grid, Kubica is one of the tallest drivers this season. However, the Pole with his F1.09 and the KERS exceeded the minimum weight of 605 kg, while Heidfeld was within the norms.

« The regulations show that taller and therefore heavier drivers are at a disadvantage, » said Theissen from Melbourne.

The German hopes to find an advantageous solution regarding the KERS for his first driver. An introduction in the race will therefore come later this season.

The situation is now clear since 7 drivers will have KERS in Australia: Alonso and Piquet for Renault, Massa and Räikkönen for Ferrari, Hamilton and Kovalainen for McLaren, and finally Heidfeld for BMW-Sauber. The rest of the grid will launch the system gradually later in the season.