Friday: BMW endures the rain but believes in its chances

The German team is up for sale and is experiencing one of its last Grand Prix races under this entity. It’s an opportunity to fine-tune the race car one last time and to habitually improve the car’s setup and the parameters that are problematic on the track. Kubica and Heidfeld are still in the game, and even without managing to achieve anything spectacular, they are neither good nor bad…

Kubica particularly tested the aerodynamics and downforce. He finished the day in 12th position with good hopes for the rest of the weekend. Heidfeld, on his part, is delighted with the new track, improved since last year, but complains about the weather. In any case, it’s the same for everyone…

Robert Kubica – 14th and 12th:

« We compared different levels of support today and completed quite long stints. These were preparations for the race. However, it was complicated to obtain reliable results due to the weather conditions. They changed every 5 minutes and remained unpredictable! »

Nick Heidfeld – 12th and 15th:

« We changed quite a few settings after the first practice session. The first session was poor and I saw real improvements in the second. However, the balance remains mediocre and we still have a lot of work to do. As for the track, it is better than expected, so I wouldn’t complain about the changes made to the track since last year where it was catastrophic. There are still some flaws, but nothing serious. »

Willy Rampf – Head of Development:

« From the moment the weather conditions deteriorated, all the teams had to deal with a mixed Friday… It keeps drizzling again and again, making it impossible to find the right setup for the car. Nevertheless, we remain focused on race preparation and different aerodynamic configurations. Tomorrow, we will be focused on the qualifications, and there will still be work needed for that. »