BMW Sauber F1 Team - Australian GP
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Printed Date: 04-May-2024 at 05:34
Topic: BMW Sauber F1 Team - Australian GP
Posted By: kbannon
Subject: BMW Sauber F1 Team - Australian GP
Date Posted: 21-March-2009 at 22:06
BMW Sauber F1 Team - Australian GP - Preview27th – 29th March 2009
1st of 17 World Championship races
Preview.
It’s all change in Formula One as
the new season gets underway amid great intrigue and excitement. A raft
of rule changes mean the cars will be sporting a totally different look
and be fitted with slick tyres. The F1 engines now have to last twice
as long as before and those who want (or are able) to will put their
faith in a Kinetic Energy Recovery System. The pre-season testing –
which the new rules stipulate will be the last of the year – threw up
more questions than it answered. Favourites were riddled with worries,
despair turned to encouragement for others whose survival in the sport
had been in doubt. Preparations may have gone smoothly for the BMW
Sauber F1 Team, but putting a finger on its progress remains a tricky
business. The crystal-ball gazing will come to an end, however, on
Saturday 28th March 2009. At 17.00 hrs local time (07:00 hrs in Central
Europe) qualifying will finally get underway for the Australian Grand
Prix in Melbourne.
Robert Kubica:
“I’m really looking forward to the Australian Grand Prix. I’m happy
that the race season will finally get started and all the speculation
of the pre-season testing will stop. It will be very interesting to see
how competitive the teams really are.
“I like street circuits in general, so Albert Park is one of my
favourite race tracks. You have to be very precise. That applies to the
whole circuit; you need to stay on the clean line. But this year
precision will be especially important for the first corner after the
start, when we will have our very first fight for position with the
bigger 2009 front wings. I’m pretty sure it will be an interesting
race. In addition, Melbourne is a very nice city and the people create
a truly special atmosphere for all of us in Formula One.”
Nick Heidfeld:
“I’m looking forward immensely to the start of the season in
Australia. This time around I’m particularly keen to see how the teams
and drivers stack up against each other. It’s time for the speculation
to stop; from now on it’s only facts that matter. A whole number of
things have changed since last year and that means there are a lot of
unanswered questions: What effect will the KERS and adjustable front
wings have in the races? What will happen at the start when we are
side-by-side with the larger front wings for the first time? Will
overtaking really be easier, as our experiences in testing have led us
to believe?
“Last year winter testing did not go as well as it might have done
for us, and we surprised everybody with our strong performance in
Australia. This winter all of our testing went pretty well, and I hope
this impression is confirmed in Melbourne. We had to contend with some
difficult weather conditions in testing, and I’m also curious to see
what happens in Albert Park in this respect, as it can get very
autumnal in my favourite travel destination in March.”
Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director:
“The start of a Formula One season with perhaps the most sweeping
rule changes we’ve ever seen is now in sight. We are pleased that
Australia is again the first GP of the year in 2009. There is always a
very special atmosphere in Melbourne. The Australians certainly love
their sport and they’ve been well and truly bitten by the Formula One
bug.
“Last year Nick took second for us in the first race of the season,
and we’re hoping that we get off to a good start in Albert Park once
again this year. We are heading in the right direction with the BMW
Sauber F1.09; both the drivers and the engineers came back with
positive feedback during testing. Plus, Nick and Robert carried out
full race simulations without suffering any technical problems.
“As far as KERS is concerned, our system will be race-ready in
Melbourne. We sent the cars out regularly with KERS during testing and
the results were very good. Now it’s just a matter of weighing up the
pros and cons. On the positive side, the drivers would have an extra 82
hp at their disposal for 6.6 seconds per lap. However, the system adds
weight to the car and this has an impact on the car’s weight
distribution and tyre wear. We will make a decision on a
driver-by-driver, circuit-by-circuit basis.”
Willy Rampf, Head of Engineering:
“There’s always a lot of anticipation ahead of the first race of
the season, but this time it’s even more exciting than usual. Winter
testing gave us some initial indications of where we stand in relation
to our rivals, but there are still a lot of question marks. The reason
for the uncertainty is the radical changes made to the technical
regulations. Totally new aerodynamics with significantly lower
downforce compared to last year, the introduction of KERS, the return
of slicks and the double mileage requirement for the engines mean we’re
starting from a totally different basis. Using the potential of the
tyres to optimum effect will be particularly important.
“Melbourne is a stop-start kind of circuit, which places heavy
loads on the brakes and, at the same time, demands good traction. Grip
levels are very low, especially at the start of the weekend, but you
cannot let that deflect you from getting the car set-up right.”
Drivers at events organised by the Australian Grand Prix Corporation:
Tuesday, 24th March:
From 16.10 hrs Christian Klien will spend around 30 minutes at a
welcome event in Federation Square, Melbourne. A BMW Sauber F1 Team car
will be on display and its engine will be fired up to entertain the
fans with its sound.
Wednesday, 25th March:
From 17.50 to 18.20 hrs Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld will give interviews on a stage near the paddock in Albert Park.
Thursday, 26th March:
From 12.00 to 12.25 hrs the BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers will take part in an autograph-signing session in Albert Park.
History and background:
2009 will see Melbourne host its 14th Australian Grand Prix. The race was held in Adelaide from 1985 to 1995.
Melbourne has many faces and is extremely multicultural, its
21st-century profile shaped by immigrants and students from all over
the world, as well as a fascinating architectural mix. The city also
boasts lush green sports grounds and public parks. The Formula One
circuit runs through Albert Park, in the St. Kilda district of
Melbourne.
With a population of around 3.5 million, Melbourne is the capital
of the State of Victoria, which was hit by devastating bush fires at
the start of the year. The fires in the south of Australia claimed over
200 lives and many more were injured. Thousands of people were left
homeless.
The city itself – Australia’s second-largest after Sydney – was not
affected. Melbourne lies at the eastern end of the continent’s south
coast, where the Yarra River empties into Port Phillip Bay. The city’s
origins can be traced back to 1835 and it acquired its current name in
1837. Gold was discovered in Victoria in the 1850s and Melbourne went
on to thrive as a railway interchange, industrial hub and port city. It
even served as the seat of the federal government for a time. The city
has a history of hosting major sporting events and was the venue for
the summer Olympic Games of 1956.
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Replies:
Posted By: kbannon
Date Posted: 05-April-2009 at 21:37
BMW Sauber F1 Team - Australian Grand Prix - Free Practice
Weather: dry, 18-19°air, 25-31°C track
Melbourne (AUS). At 12.30 hrs local time in Melbourne, Australia, the 2009 season finally started. For the BMW Sauber F1 Team the two free practice sessions were trouble free and unspectacular. Nick Heidfeld finished 11th and 14th, while Robert Kubica was 13th and 15th.
The team fitted Heidfeld's F1.09 with the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) while Kubica drove without the hybrid system.
Nick Heidfeld: BMW Sauber F1.09-04 / BMW P86/9 1st Practice: 11th , 1.28.137 min / 2. Practice: 14 th 1.27.398 min “It was great fun to drive here today. It was high time the season started. We had no technical problems and completed our entire programme – with the usual tyre comparison and long runs. The Albert Park circuit isn’t a permanent race track and, therefore, naturally has a very low grip level at the beginning of the race weekend. It improved a little during the two practice sessions but even in the end it wasn’t good.”
Robert Kubica: BMW Sauber F1.09-03 / BMW P86/9 1st Practice: 13th, 1.28.511 min / 2nd Practice: 15th, 1.27.398 min “It was the first Friday of the season, but, apart from that, it was the normal work improving the set-up and evaluating the tyres for the race. We collected a lot of data which we have to analyse so we can make more progress. Overall we are lacking grip, and we have to find out why.”
Willy Rampf (Head of Engineering): “At last the new season has started! We did not have any technical problems today, KERS also worked without any difficulties. We were able to complete our full programme. The focus was the set-up work for the race, but so far we are not satisfied with this. The decisive factor will be to use the tyre performance perfectly for both specifications. We will concentrate on this in the third practice.”
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Posted By: kbannon
Date Posted: 05-April-2009 at 21:38
BMW Sauber F1 Team - Australian GP - Qualifying Weather: sunny and dry, 19-25°air, 31-35°C track
Melbourne (AUS). The BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers, Robert Kubica and
Nick Heidfeld, will be starting 4th and 11th on the grid respectively
for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix. While Kubica was able to fight in
all three qualifying sessions, Heidfeld just failed to get through to
the top ten.
Robert Kubica:
BMW Sauber F1.09-03 / BMW P86/9
Qualifying: 4th, 1.26.914 min (3rd Practice: 9th, 1.26.514 min)
“I’m quite happy with fourth on the grid. Looking at the first
practice sessions of the weekend, this was more than we expected. We
made progress with the car, and I was able to put in some really good
laps. In particular, my lap in Q2 was very good. Unfortunately on my
second run in Q3 Nico Rosberg went wide in front of me in corner 14 and
put some dust on the track. As a consequence my tyres lost massive grip
in the final corners of that lap. Most probably I could have finished
third, but still I’m satisfied with my performance.”
Nick Heidfeld:
BMW Sauber F1.09-04 / BMW P86/9 (KERS)
Qualifying: 11th , 1.25.504 min in Q2 / 3rd Practice: 10th 1.26.555 min)
“We have been improving the car in every session and in qualifying
it was okay. Also my final lap in Q2 was okay until the last sector
where I just didn’t get it right, and especially in the last corner I
had too much oversteer. Eleventh is certainly not what I was aiming for
after the winter tests were quite promising, but at least it is an
advantage compared to tenth because I am now free to choose my fuel
load. I am hoping for a good race and some points. Using the KERS might
be a small advantage just after the start, although here the straight
before the first corner isn’t really long.“
Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director):
“Robert had a fantastic Qualifying and was up with the
front-runners with both low and heavy fuel loads on his car. His fourth
on the grid is more than we could have expected after the free practice
sessions. Unfortunately Nick missed Q3 by a small margin. However, this
gives us more opportunities for the race strategy, because from
eleventh on the grid you are free to choose the amount of fuel for the
race. Both cars ran without any technical problems. On top of this, our
new pit crew did a great job.”
Willy Rampf (Head of Engineering):
“Finally the first qualifying of 2009 is behind us and we have got
an idea where everybody stands. In Q2, when everybody runs with a very
low fuel level, Robert was among the fastest. This is very pleasing
after the free practice results weren't that promising. Nick on the
other hand didn't really get it right in Q2, and just missed the top
ten qualifying. For tomorrow we expect similar track conditions and are
looking forward to a very exciting race.”
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Posted By: kbannon
Date Posted: 05-April-2009 at 21:39
BMW Sauber F1 Team - Australian GP - RaceWeather: sunny and dry, 21-19°air, 30-25°C track
Melbourne (AUS). The BMW Sauber F1 Team had a disappointing start
to the 2009 season with both cars involved in accidents. Nick
Heidfeld’s race was already hopeless after he was hit in the first
corner and then brought the damaged car home in 11th. For team mate,
Robert Kubica, the Australian GP was a lot more dramatic. With only
three laps to go the Pole was fighting for second place with Sebastian
Vettel (Red Bull) when the cars touched, crashed and retired.
Nick Heidfeld: 11th
BMW Sauber F1.09-04 / BMW P86/9 (KERS)
Fastest lap: 1:28.283 min on lap 48 (5th fastest overall)
“Today’s outcome to the race is extremely disappointing for me. I
had such a good start and was able to make up positions straight away.
My strategy was promising too. Then in the braking zone for the first
corner I felt safe because when I looked there was no car next to me. I
was in the middle of the track but suddenly I got a big bang. I had to
pit for new tyres and a front wing, but the damage to the car was a lot
more than that and driving with it was hopeless. I think at least the
KERS helped me to defend my position with such a slow car. But in the
end it didn’t matter much because who cares if you finish 11th or
13th.”
Robert Kubica: accident
BMW Sauber F1.09-03 / BMW P86/9
Fastest lap: 1:27.988 min on lap 36 (2nd fastest overall)
“What a disappointment! I had a chance to win this race because
Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel were on soft tyres and struggling,
while I was on the harder compound and was able to drive much quicker.
Sebastian went wide in corner one and then he braked early. I was
already in front, but he didn’t want to let me by. Then he had a lot of
understeer and touched me. My front wing was under the car, therefore I
crashed in corner 5. I think Sebastian was a bit too optimistic. Had
this been the last corner okay, but there were still three laps to go
and he really had no realistic chance to defend his position because I
was so much quicker. We both had a great weekend up to this point and
we leave Melbourne with nothing. That’s a real shame! My car was very
good, particularly in the second stint when I set the best lap times.
That’s racing!”
Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director):
“As quite often happened in the past we had another race in
Melbourne with a lot of drama. Nick’s hopes had already gone in the
first corner. After a collision, which wasn't his fault, he was not
only a long way behind, but also his aerodynamics were ruined, which
made it impossible for him to catch up. Robert drove an excellent race
and got himself up with the leaders in the final laps of the race. He
was on the harder tyre compound, and had every chance to catch the two
cars in front of him to win the race. The collision three laps before
the flag ended the race for him and also for Sebastian Vettel, so both
drivers lost a podium and points. On the positive side, I can say that
today we were very fast on the harder tyres.”
Willy Rampf (Head of Engineering):
“This was a turbulent start to the season, particularly for our
team. Nick lost his chances in the race immediately after the start
following a crash, which was not his fault. Robert was even unluckier.
First he was catching the leading cars. And then, just a few laps from
the end, he was able to attack the frontrunners. Because of our tyre
choice, Robert was on the harder compound on the last stint, unlike his
competitors on the soft. At this stage our car was much quicker than
the two leading ones. When Robert overtook Sebastian Vettel he was
already in front when Sebastian touched him. This cost us second place
or even the victory.”
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Posted By: kbannon
Date Posted: 05-April-2009 at 21:47
Exclusive previews, fascinating feature stories and exciting reviews:
BMW Sauber F1 Team TV takes you closer to Robert Kubica and Nick
Heidfeld in 2009. It all kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix.
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Posted By: kbannon
Date Posted: 05-April-2009 at 21:49
BMW Sauber F1 Team TV takes you closer to Robert Kubica and Nick
Heidfeld in 2009. Heres how the first Grand Prix of the season went in
Australia.
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