Why does Mark Webber's KERS keep failing,

[peanutaxis]

while Vettel never seems to have problems with it?

[Lycoming]

I'm pretty sure he had intermittent or inop KERS a few times as well, though the only example I can think of offhand is Spain 2011. I don't think Webber has more KERS issues. at least, not in any statistically significant way.

[RB7ate9]

If there were any KERS problems for Vettel last year, he was usually too far ahead for it to matter .

Usually, it's more apparent when Webber gets a KERS issue because he's usually getting mugged by other drivers and has thus more to lose with its failure (India being the most recent case where he didn't DNF).

It might also be a case where Webber is usually the guinea pig, testing new components, teething it out, before slapping it on Vettel's.

I'm full of conspiracy theories, but I'll refrain from posting it (e.g. I could've sworn I saw an extra button on Vettel's steering wheel labeled "Web Kers" )

[autogyro]

My guess is a battery cooling issues.
Adrians designs have little compromise when it comes to aero and KERS has never been the winning part of his over all design thinking.
Less power from the Renault powertrain might also allow less available aero/drag for cooling.
Without movable aero devices it is a big problem cooling the KERS batteries.
Asking the drivers to turn off KERS for a lap or so is often heard on the radios.

[Agerasia]

I'm going to take a stab in the dark and suggest that the KERS unit and alternator on MW's car are one and the same thing

[turbof1]

My guess is a battery cooling issues.
Adrians designs have little compromise when it comes to aero and KERS has never been the winning part of his over all design thinking.
Less power from the Renault powertrain might also allow less available aero/drag for cooling.
Without movable aero devices it is a big problem cooling the KERS batteries.
Asking the drivers to turn off KERS for a lap or so is often heard on the radios.

Still doesn't explain why it happens more often with Webber then Vettel.

How about this: Vettel ussually qualifies more towards the front then Webber does; that would theoritically also mean he drives more in clean air. Webber has to drive more often in dirty air, which in turns brings less cooling to the KERS batteries?

[piast9]

Aren't the batteries placed somewhere around the driver's back? Isn't Mark taller than Seb? I think he is. In that case the batteries packaging in Mark's car may be different and more prone to cooling issues than in Seb's. What do you think?

[Cold Fussion]

My guess is a battery cooling issues.
Adrians designs have little compromise when it comes to aero and KERS has never been the winning part of his over all design thinking.
Less power from the Renault powertrain might also allow less available aero/drag for cooling.
Without movable aero devices it is a big problem cooling the KERS batteries.
Asking the drivers to turn off KERS for a lap or so is often heard on the radios.

Still doesn't explain why it happens more often with Webber then Vettel.

How about this: Vettel ussually qualifies more towards the front then Webber does; that would theoritically also mean he drives more in clean air. Webber has to drive more often in dirty air, which in turns brings less cooling to the KERS batteries?

Is it possible we just don't hear about Vettel's kers failures over the team radio?

[Kiril Varbanov]

Yes, Mark is taller than VET, in fact, one of the tallest in F1 - 184 cm.
The real question is: are the KERS components the same in both cars or do we know about VET's failures?

[Nando]

Why does Schumacher have more technical failures then Rosberg?

I think it´s all down to pure bad luck. But i could be wrong though.

[Edis]

I'm going to take a stab in the dark and suggest that the KERS unit and alternator on MW's car are one and the same thing

No, the oil cooled permanent magnet alternator is not the same as the KERS unit.

Aren't the batteries placed somewhere around the driver's back? Isn't Mark taller than Seb? I think he is. In that case the batteries packaging in Mark's car may be different and more prone to cooling issues than in Seb's. What do you think?

Red Bull have their batteries at the sides of the gearbox.