Saturday: Doubts and Uncertainties in the BMW Clan
BMW did nothing exceptional on this race Saturday. The starting grid positions for the German Grand Prix for both drivers are disappointing. Only 11th for Nick Heidfeld and 16th for Robert Kubica. The morning practice sessions did not bode well. The changing weather over the Nurburgring got the better of the German driver in front […]
BMW did nothing exceptional on this race Saturday. The starting grid positions for the German Grand Prix for both drivers are disappointing. Only 11th for Nick Heidfeld and 16th for Robert Kubica. The morning practice sessions did not bode well. The changing weather over the Nurburgring got the better of the German driver in front of his home crowd. A new downpour while he was on slick tires, that is unforgiving.
His teammate, the Pole Kubica, is a victim of something much more serious, something the team is unable to resolve race after race. An F1.09 that hasn’t showcased the driver’s qualities since the beginning of the season.
Nick Heidfeld – 10th and 11th:
The last tests weren’t too bad, I made it to Q2 and it seemed like I had my place in the top ten. But, we just had a bit of bad luck with our tire choice. Intermediates were needed and then in the final part of Q2, they weren’t anymore. So intermediates or dry tires? I left the decision to the team and they went for the dry ones. I don’t blame anyone, as it’s always easy to say the opposite would have been better. However, 11th place isn’t too bad and we are free to choose our fuel strategy. I wouldn’t want a wet race tomorrow.
Robert Kubica – 18th and 16th:
« We brought some new parts to the Nürburgring and the car made some progress. Unfortunately, my car is not reacting as it should. I fought to get my car to behave well. From the first free practice session, I noticed that something was wrong. Although the data analysis highlights something strange, we do not understand in detail what is happening. We need to understand and solve our problem. »
Mario Theissen – Director of BMW Motorsport:
« It was a very strange qualifying session, with variable results depending on the weather conditions. In Q1, Robert [Kubica] had to give up his third run because of the rain. He missed entering Q2 by six hundredths of a second. For the first race in Q2, intermediates were mandatory because the track was too wet. Then it dried up, and when we put slicks on Nick [Heidfeld]’s car for his last stint, it started raining again. Just like his teammate, he missed the upper level of qualifying by one position. »
