Williams might start 2011 without KERS

UPDATE This rumor is downgraded to 'false' today. Williams has revealed that it will be using KERS during the season-opening Grand Prix of the year in Melbourne, with the team opting to stick with its unit despite early teething problems in testing. The Grove-based outfit announced the news on Saturday, with the final pre-season test coming to a close at Barcelona.

Rubens Barrichello and Pastor Maldonado have both endured KERS related technical troubles behind the wheel of the newly-designed FW33, but Williams is confident that no such issues should occur when the upcoming Formula 1 campaign gets underway on the weekend of March 25-27.

According to Williams' official Twitter feed, Technical Director Sam Michael was at working at Grove to asses the situation, and has since decided to use the system in Australia: “Reviewed KERS problem and good news is that we'll be racing KERS in Melbourne."

03/11/11 (GMM) Williams might have to start the 2011 season without KERS.

With its own KERS company Williams Hybrid Power, the Oxfordshire based team initially developed a flywheel system but instead opted for the more tightly-packaged battery version for its 2011 car FW33.

However, it has been troublesome in recent testing and Rubens Barrichello has now admitted it might not be taken to Melbourne in two weeks.

"We need to decide quickly what we are going to do," he is quoted by the Dutch website f1today.nl.

"I hope we do not conclude that we have to race in Melbourne without KERS, but it is possible," admitted Barrichello.

"It is an uncertain factor for us; one day it gives us no problems and the next day it gives us hundreds of problems."

KERS aside, the 38-year-old said he is happy with the FW33 and is targeting "Q3 and a good number of regular points".