Formula One cars to get heavier in 2010

Formula One's governing body has moved to prevent the sport becoming a 'jockeys' championship' by increasing the minimum weight of cars by 15kg from next year.

Taller drivers such as BMW-Sauber's Robert Kubica have been at a disadvantage this season because of the introduction of the new KERS system that provides a power boost at the push of a button.

The energy recovery systems weigh between 25 and 30kg with the minimum weight of the car plus driver currently set at 605kg, leaving the bigger men with less ballast to move around in setting up the car.

Kubica has raced only once with KERS this season, in Bahrain last weekend, while smaller and lighter team mate Nick Heidfeld has had it on his car since the Australian opener.

The 2010 technical regulations published on Thursday on the International Automobile Federation (FIA) website raised the minimum car-plus-driver weight to 620kg.

BMW-Sauber boss Mario Theissen warned last month that Formula One risked becoming a 'jockeys' championship' for small drivers only and called for the weight limit to be raised to compensate for KERS.