The SREC would have cost 100 million

According to several sources, the teams which chose to develop a Kinetic Energy Recovery System this winter spent around 100 million euros. An investment whose profitability is more than questionable.

Published on 23/07/2009 à 09:50

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Four teams have chosen to develop the SREC (KERS in English): BMW Sauber, Ferrari, McLaren-Mercedes et Renault. Since the start of the season, BMW Sauber and Renault have chosen to abandon this heavy and underperforming system. Ferrari continues to use it and McLaren prefers not to use it on all circuits.

Initially estimated at just over $60 million, the total cost of developing the SREC would have now reached $100 million.

On the track, this system mainly helps drivers defend their position and does not act, as expected when it was presented, to facilitate overtaking. Push-to-pass has not been reinvented.

Ultimately, the only team to benefit from it would be Williams. The Grove team worked on a system without adapting it to its needs. car. Today, Franck Williams admits to having important commercial contacts to sell this kinetic energy recovery system to manufacturers.