Zoom Horner talks of the new rules for the 2009 season

Following the opening free practice sessions today at Monaco, Gerhard Berger (Toro Rosso), Stefano Domenicali (Ferrari), Christian Horner (Red Bull), Vijay Mallya (Force India) and Adam Parr (Williams) took part in the Thursday FIA press conference.

Q: A question to all of you about next year, about the future of Formula One in many ways. Budget capping, KERS, next year’s regulations, whatever you would like to talk about?
Christian HORNER: I think obviously the challenges of next year are considerable. It is a massive change in regulations, obviously heavily impacting the mechanical and aerodynamic side of the car and the first stage of the KERS system, so it is a big technical challenge. One of the factors that as an independent team, and to a greater or lesser extent I am sure the other teams are trying to balance, is how much resource they commit at this time of year compared to continually developing the current car which is effectively obsolete technology for next year. Slick tyres, KERS, different aero, it is almost a different formula.

Q: How much investment are you putting into KERS for example? Or do you leave that to your engine supplier?
CH: We are working very closely with our engine partner on that. It makes sense as part of the drive-train solution to follow the route that Renault are pursuing. We are working hand in hand with them on the solution, but it is a complex solution and there are some real engineering challenges to integrate it within the chassis and also safely.

Q: Stefano, your thoughts on the future.
Stefano DOMENICALI: I think I can cut and paste what Christian said about the first point. For sure it is a big challenge for all of us and we are in a situation where we are now fully concentrated and devoted to the development of the actual car but of course we need to, the more and more the time goes on, to concentrate above all on the aerodynamic and design office on the new car. Then, with regards to the KERS project, it is a massive project that we are working very hard on. For sure it is a big, big challenge we face and I have to say there are important points to resolve. We have also the responsibility to be able to offer to our customers something that performance-wise has to be important for them, so it is a big, big challenge. It is very difficult but for sure very important to be able to fight for the championship next year.