It’s January, so that means its time for some nostalgic optimism for Sir Frank Williams’ outfit.

The launch was another low-key one, in fact, so low-key they just left it on a kerb outside a school and waited for kids to upload photos from their phones to facebook.

The talking point (and cause for the optimism) this year is the KERS (pronounced KERS) system, in that they’ve gone for is the only one of all the teams that isn’t using electrics, but a ruddy flywheel.

This is much lighter, and as the heaviness is what’s pissing off all the other teams, Williams might shoot up the ranks a bit

I don’t pretend to understand the technicals but all the other teams have gone for little (or big) batteries to store the energy – but Williams – as you’d hope from a good old fashioned racing team are doing it all with oily rags and breathing in through the teeth.

The spinning flywheel stores the energy for release at will very much like an elastic band wrapped round two biros, which incidentally is exactly what the old honda team are planning for 2009.

Fingers cross for Sir Frank and the boys, they need a good 2009