| Along with the many other changes to the rules | | | | nearly 30 kg, and it has to be placed at the rear |
| and regulations for the latest 2009 Formula One | | | | of the car. There is a minimum weight limit of a |
| season, using a Kinetic Energy Recovery System | | | | Formula One car, 605 kg, including the driver. |
| (KERS) is now allowed. This allows drivers to gain | | | | Strategically, teams build their cars much lighter, |
| a momentary boost of speed, once it is activated | | | | and then add ballast weights to certain areas of |
| by a special button on the steering wheel. | | | | the car in order to improve the weight distribution. |
| The system works using special flywheel | | | | Because the KERS is quite heavy, it can really |
| technology to capture the kinetic energy from | | | | disturb the weight distribution of the car, this in |
| the driveline as it decelerates. It then takes this | | | | turn causes the car not to handle as well as it |
| energy and puts it back into the driveline via a | | | | was designed to. This is one of the main reasons |
| Torotrak CVT system while accelerating. The FIA | | | | why Brawn GP does not use the KERS system. |
| has limited the usage of the system to 400 KJ | | | | Another reason why teams like Brawn GP will |
| per lap, which gives the drivers who use this | | | | avoid the KERS package, is that when the |
| system an extra 85 hp for a period of 6.67 | | | | system is deployed, it greatly affects the handling |
| seconds at any point at which they feel it would | | | | of a car, making it only suitable for straight line |
| help them in the race. | | | | speed. |
| However, not all teams are using the KERS, | | | | With the results of Brawn GP after their first race |
| including Brawn GP, as it affects various crucial | | | | this season, it indeed indicates that they have |
| aspects of their cars, as listed below: | | | | made the correct decision of not using the Kinetic |
| Weight distribution: The KERS system weighs in at | | | | Energy Recovery Systems. |