Williams will run its own battery-powered KERS system in 2011, technical director Sam Michael has announced.

The Grove based outfit runs its own hybrid systems company, and developed an unique flywheel system that is now used by Porsche in GT racing.

But Sir Frank Williams revealed recently that the flywheel system is so big “it would make our (F1) car like a London double-decker”.

So in 2011, with KERS returning to formula one, Williams Hybrid Power is working on a more conventional electrical version.

“Everything is being done in-house,” Michael confirmed.  “Only the battery cells are being bought from outside.”

(GMM)

A car defect has prevented Sebastian Vettel from scoring pole position for the Turkish grand prix.

Instead, his on-form Red Bull teammate Mark Webber netted his third consecutive qualifying triumph, and on Sunday could complete a hat-trick of wins from pole.

But Vettel, with his new ‘Randy Mandy’ chassis at Istanbul Park, was actually quicker in Q1 and Q2, and on course for a much faster lap when his front wheel began locking under braking.

“The chassis change has paid off, if only they had changed this braking part too,” Niki Lauda said wryly to Motorsport-Magazin.com after qualifying.

The problem translated to a half-second deficit to Webber for Vettel, allowing McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton to slip between them on the grid.

“It was a tight fight with all of us and I think Seb had a bit of a problem with his car,” admitted Australian afterwards.

The disappointment clearly told on 22-year-old Vettel’s face, having come so close to bouncing back to top form after two races clearly behind his teammate.

“It should easily have been a lot quicker,” said the German.  “I’m not the type of guy who says ‘the car is broken, that’s it’.”

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko described Vettel’s problem as a “pity”, but for the energy drinks brand, its run of pole positions in 2010 remains unbroken.

“One and three is not so bad,” said the Austrian Marko.

(GMM)

Rather than bracing to lose a customer, Cosworth says it is ready to supply engines to a fifth formula one team next year.

The British marque’s business director Mark Gallagher played down recent reports that the currently Cosworth-powered Williams or Lotus could be moving to switch to Renault.

Renault has said it is willing to add to its customer engine roster for 2011, but Gallagher told Reuters that he thinks Williams, Lotus, Virgin and HRT are going nowhere.

“The obvious solution is actually the thirteenth team that is coming into formula one,” he said.

“My gut feeling is that it is probably a Cosworth/Renault competition to supply (that) team,” added Gallagher.

Even if the four Cosworth-powered teams all stay put, Gallagher said the Northampton-based supplier has the capacity to supply a fifth team.

“It certainly wouldn’t be a problem to step up to the mark again and do it for next season,” he said.

(GMM)

Nick Heidfeld has admitted he is prepared to become F1′s tyre tester later this year.

With Bridgestone departing and a new supplier set to enter formula one in 2011, it has been rumoured that amid the current testing ban, some tyre-specific track outings might be sanctioned.

“That would be an attractive thing. If I am asked, I would not say no,” German Heidfeld, who this year is Mercedes’ reserve driver, is quoted by Sport Bild magazine.

The 33-year-old is a veteran of 167 grands prix, and he is bidding to be back on the F1 grid in 2011.

“I want to be racing again (in F1) no later than 2011,” he confirmed.

“I feel too young for DTM or for taking part in the Le Mans 24 hours,” added Heidfeld.