LONDON // McLaren are likely to start the Formula One season with the controversial new KERS energy recovery system, said the Finnish driver Heikki Kovalainen.
"I'm 99 per cent confident (the team will use it)," he said after testing today at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain.
"I think we are now hitting a stage where we can run it all day, reliably, without any problems and at the maximum power.
"So unless something goes dramatically wrong, I don't see a reason why we shouldn't run it."
The Kinetic Energy Recovery System, which gives drivers a short burst of extra power at the push of a button, has been controversial because of the cost and technical complexity of introducing it when teams are trying to reduce expenditure.
Williams, Red Bull and Toyota have said they will not use the system in the opening long-haul races, with the season starting in Australia on March 29, while other teams have yet to decide whether it is reliable enough to race.
"Hopefully, it should be an advantage for us," said Kovalainen, whose British teammate Lewis Hamilton is the defending champion.
"Certainly, it's going to be an advantage at the start, it potentially gives a big benefit from the start to the first corner.
"And then obviously in the race if you're fighting and you need to overtake people.
"Hopefully, other people don't get it and we get it, but there are other good teams around and I wouldn't underestimate anyone, so I wouldn't be surprised if many of the other teams had it as well."
Hamilton, who won last year's driver's title in dramatic fashion in the final race of the season in Brazil, said that he expected other teams to raise their game with Force India, who use the same Mercedes engines as McLaren, the possible surprise package.
"Just from looking at the times, it looks like (Toyota) are doing quite a good job," he told the autosport.com website.
"The Renault doesn't look bad, the BMW doesn't look bad, so there are quite a lot of teams looking pretty impressive at the moment."
*Reuters
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Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.