BMW Sauber early season was a disaster

A year ago BMW Sauber looked to be challenging not just for their first victory, but for championship success. The team did go on to take its first win and then opted to focus on the 2009 challenger and thereby compromising Robert Kubica’s title aspirations.

Based on the first four races of the new season, this was a poor decision from the Hinwil-based management, especially given the fact that the F1.09 just isn’t very good in its current form.

Yesterday in qualification for the Bahrain Grand Prix, Kubica – who claimed the pole at the same circuit a year ago - and team-mate Nick Heidfeld lined up a disappointed 13th and 14th. Race day would bring early incidents for both with the duo taking the chequered flag last.

“We knew it would be another difficult race weekend for us, and it was also clear the danger of a collision would be higher the further down the grid we were," explained Team Principal Mario Theissen. "As we feared, both our drivers had early collisions and as a result the race was practically over."

"During the pit stops we gave them a lot of fuel and sent them out with hard tyres, because the only chance of getting back into the race would have been during a safety-car period," he continued. "But even if this had happened scoring a point would have been impossible. We are now concentrating on the next race in Barcelona, where we will compete with a new aero package.”

Naturally Kubica was less than thrilled with his day in the desert. "My race was destroyed after corner one," he said.
"I was between Nick and another car, we touched each other and I destroyed my front wing. Then after the crash there was a miscommunication with the pit crew. I asked to come in straight away, but was only able to pit after the second lap. Then the race was very difficult, as for a long time I was in a heavy car on prime tyres. We were really nowhere with our pace. I hope we make a big step forward in Barcelona..."

Team-mate Heidfeld was equally as disappointed. "The result is a disaster, although we were unlucky with the collision in the first corner," the German veteran said. "At first I thought the suspension was broken, but I only had to have a new nose fitted in the pits and then continued. The first half of the race with the harder tyres was difficult, but the softer compound made it a little bit easier."

"However, it is another race to forget and we all hope for improvements in Barcelona," he concluded.

With the team aiming to make gains with the new aero package next time out at the Spanish Grand Prix, a glance at the constructors’ standings shows that they have a mountain to climb. After four races the team has four points, 46 less than Brawn Mercedes.