Howett confirms KERS-delay for Toyota

John Howett, Toyota's team president, confirmed that the Japanese outfit will start the 2009 season without the Kinetic Energy Recovery System. After a meeting of the FOTA, McLaren's Ron Dennis leaked to the media that Toyota plan to race in Melbourne without KERS.

John Howett said at the Brazilian track of Interlagos: "It is very unlikely that at the first race we will have a safe and reliable KERS that will add performance benefits. I am not saying that after some time it won't, but there are some pretty big issues."

Howett also admitted that he was unimpressed with Dennis for tipping off the press after a confidential meeting between the teams. "I do resent that people have mentioned that. It was a genuine meeting of absolute confidence," he added.