Red Bull Looks to Nissan for 2013 KERS Collaboration
Red Bull Racing is considering a technical partnership with Nissan, via Infiniti, to tap into battery expertise for its Formula One KERS system from 2013.
Red Bull Racing is evaluating Nissan as a future technical partner for its Formula One Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), with attention turning to the 2013 season when the FIA is expected to relax regulations on energy recovery technology.
The possibility of collaboration surfaced after Red Bull and Infiniti, Nissan’s premium brand, announced a sponsorship deal covering the 2011 and 2012 F1 seasons. Both parties signalled that the agreement could extend beyond branding, pointing to “future technical collaboration” as a key element of their partnership. While Infiniti branding appears on the Red Bull cars from 2011, the technical side is expected to develop as new regulations arrive.
Battery expertise from Nissan
Red Bull has identified Nissan’s experience in battery development as a potential asset for its KERS programme. The team has previously faced reliability issues with its energy recovery system, and the expected 2013 regulatory changes present an opportunity to improve performance. Nissan, as a leader in electric vehicle battery technology, could provide Red Bull with research and development resources that have not previously been available to the team as a chassis manufacturer.
Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal, has indicated that any benefit from Nissan’s battery know-how would not come into play until at least 2013, depending on the final shape of the FIA’s regulations. The team’s focus remains on extracting the most from its current KERS system, but the potential for a step change exists if Nissan’s technology can be integrated under the new rules.
KERS regulation changes and competitive context
The FIA’s anticipated changes for 2013 are expected to allow greater freedom in energy recovery system design, making battery technology an increasingly important differentiator. Red Bull’s interest in Nissan comes as other teams continue to refine their own KERS solutions, with reliability and packaging remaining persistent challenges across the grid. Red Bull’s previous KERS issues have been well documented, with the team working to improve both performance and dependability in the run-up to the new rules.
- Red Bull Racing and Infiniti sponsorship covers 2011–2012.
- Technical collaboration likely to focus on KERS battery technology.
- Nissan’s EV battery expertise seen as key asset for 2013.
- FIA expected to open up KERS regulations in 2013.
The move to involve Nissan’s expertise would give Red Bull access to advanced battery research that has powered Nissan’s electric vehicle development, including the Leaf. This could position Red Bull to make a technical leap as F1’s energy recovery systems become more central to performance.
What it means for Red Bull’s F1 prospects
If the partnership develops as planned, Red Bull could have a competitive advantage in KERS performance from 2013 onwards. The integration of Nissan’s battery technology would depend on the final FIA regulations and the success of joint research and development efforts. For now, the team continues to address its current KERS reliability while preparing for a possible technical shift with Nissan’s support.
