GreenBkk.com Formula 1 | Vettel still getting his head around wing and KERS

Vettel still getting his head around wing and KERS

Sebastian Vettel is still getting used to the extra buttons on his steering wheel © Getty Images

After completing his third day of testing in the new Red Bull RB7, Sebastian Vettel admitted he is still getting used to using the moveable rear wing and KERS.

Drivers will be able to significantly reduce the car's drag this year by switching between high and low downforce settings on the rear wing. The option will only be open to them for overtaking purposes in races and limited to a 600 metre stretch on the circuit's longest straight. However, in qualifying it will free to use and therefore crucial to master.

"It's quite tricky with the rear wing; it acts in a similar manner to the F-duct last year, so naturally, as a driver, you want to use it as much as you can," Vettel said. "When the tyres go off, it's not as easy to use as when the tyres are fresh, but you get used to it."

Red Bull is also running KERS for the first time this season, which provides an on-demand power boost by harvesting kinetic energy from the rear axle under braking and storing it in batteries. It can have a significant impact on the car's behaviour under braking and Vettel admitted it was another area he is taking time to get used to.

"KERS is not so easy to use, but again it's a case of getting used to it - it's practice in the end."

Red Bull's chief engineer Dominic Harlow said on the whole the RB7 had performed well as it racked up another 98 laps on Saturday.

"It was another good day today and we managed to get through our full programme, despite a number of red flags towards the end of the session. Fortunately we were up on our schedule at that point, so we didn't lose too much time. The car ran reliably all day."

Credit: ESPN F1 (espn.com)