Spa Quotes: Missed opportunities but excellent pace for BMW
By BMW Sauber F1
August 30 2009
The BMW Sauber F1 Team walks away from Spa with a further nine championship points in its pocket. This is exactly the total the team has collected in all the previous eleven races this year. While Robert Kubica improved from fifth on the grid to fourth in the Belgian Grand Prix, his team mate, Nick Heidfeld, was not so happy as he started third and finished fifth in the race.
The team had the pace to record the second and third fastest laps in the race.
Robert Kubica: 4th
BMW Sauber F1.09-08 / BMW P86/9
Fastest lap 1:47.664 min on lap 41 (3rd fastest overall)
“I
managed to make a good start and was second after the first corner. I
was surprised to see Kimi next to me going through Eau Rouge.
Approaching the fifth corner he braked very late and went off. It is a
very tricky place. He came back on the track right in front of me and I
played it safe as we saw a lot of accidents there over the weekend.
Although we had a slight touch, I was able to continue. At times we
lacked a bit of speed but, of course, it is good to be fighting for
podiums again. The result means a lot of points for the team and is
good. Unfortunately we didn’t have the chance to achieve anything
better. The result proves we are quite competitive on low downforce
tracks, which is a positive sign for Monza. However, we have to analyse
why the car was more competitive and felt better during qualifying
yesterday.”
Nick Heidfeld: 5th
BMW Sauber F1.09-07 / BMW P86/9
Fastest lap 1:47.371 min on lap 35 (2nd fastest overall)
“Although
it is a good result for the team, I have to admit I’m disappointed.
From third on the grid I had higher expectations, but I lost the race
on the first lap. My thought pattern before the race went back and
forth as to whether I should take the harder or the softer compound for
the start. The harder was the quicker one but, of course, not the
better one for heating up quickly. Because the sun was shining I went
for the harder compound, and paid for it. After the start I tried to
out brake Jarno on the inside of La Source, but I lost ground because
the tyres weren’t warm enough. Up the hill to turn five several cars
were in the gravel, including me, and that’s where I lost more
positions. Later at my first pit stop I had to lock up the brakes in
the pit lane to avoid crashing into Mark, who I was then able to
immediately overtake on the track. In the last stint my pace was really
good and I closed the gap to Robert. But, even though I was quicker
than him, I couldn’t overtake because as soon as you are less than two
seconds behind another car you start sliding due to losing downforce in
the dirty air.”
Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director):
“After
our best qualifying this was also the best race result of the season.
With fourth and fifth we were the only team that managed to get both
cars into the top eight, and we scored nine championship points. Nick
lost the chance of a podium position on the thrilling first lap. Robert
damaged his front wing right at the beginning, but was able to
continue. A big compliment to the whole team for this strong
performance.”
Willy Rampf (Head of Engineering):
“We were
all very excited before the start because we expected some action. And
this happened exactly as expected. Unfortunately, Nick lost the
advantage of his strong starting position in the chicane after the
Kemmel straight. After this incident he was able to maintain a very
good pace and he finally clinched fifth. Robert had contact with
another car right at the beginning and lost part of his front wing. We
checked the aero data and decided it would not make sense to bring him
into the pits, which turned out to be the right decision. Today’s
result is the reward for all our hard work during recent weeks."
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He was closing in during the last stint and seemed to be faster Robert,(times indicated that), but it was too little too late for any kind of challenge.
Missed opportunities ? They happen to every driver every race, I don't put as much belief in them as I use to. It's what it is, and no use crying over spilt milk.
Fourth and fifth are better than zip !
sessions
Sorry, I don't understand why so much bashing towards Nick, yet always being ultra-defending when Robert uses similar kind of so-called excuses...
Next thing we will hear here is that its his fault that Webber was released unsafely from the pitstop...oh well!
So Nick admiting he screwed up with tyre choice is an excuse? And if he hadn't admitted it, you would say he never admits mistakes...
No words on Kubica about engine saving though...you so sure? or is he applying the same PR filter to critice so much on Nick?
Nick doesn't attack Kubica (teamplaying?) and yet again you critice him?
Please enlighten me, gentleman. Can't see beyond all that mist of fanboyism you're placing here
Racing against the machine!
Quote:Funny, I always thought the excuses' man was Kubica.
Impressions are funny thing.What you see on that pic:
For example when certain driver complains whole year about mysterious problems with heating tyres, while other guy (who is doing much better) says nothing about that, "objective" people dont consider that "excuses". When the other guy says he had to conserve engine because BMW cannot somehow build reliable one "objective" people consider that "excuses".
Quote:No words on Kubica about engine saving though...you so sure? or is he applying the same PR filter to critice so much on Nick?
Jaime its BMW press release made by BMW PR department, which means words are carefully chosen from what was said by drivers and all is adjusted to create certain image of the company and the brand. Why remind whole world that BMW cannot build reliable engine? If the engine didnt kaboom than it was ok.
EDIT: One more thing. I dont think what Heidfeld said are excuses. He just described the situation the way he saw it. The same goes for Kubica. I think neither of them has anything to be shame of or to look for excuses. In this race Heidfeld seemed faster but he found himself - because of luck, or his own error - in bad position. Life is tough and racing is even tougher.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:08:30:20:47:19 by Walsingham.
Quote:">ONBOARD KUBICANo mention of RK's wing being broken in his comment
Quote:
That goes to show Kimi's unfair advantage, against the rules:
Apendix "L" CHAPTER IV - CODE OF DRIVING CONDUCT ON CIRCUITS
c) The race track alone shall be used by the drivers during the
race. Drivers must use the track at all times. For the avoidance of... Leer más
doubt:
- the white lines defining the track edges are considered to be
part of the track but the kerbs are not, and ;
- a driver will be judged to have left the track if no part of the car remains in contact with the track.
Should a car leave the track for any reason, and without
prejudice to 2(d) below, the driver may rejoin. However, this may only be done when it is safe to do so and without gaining any advantage.
Why didn't BMW complain???
Quote:Wals
Impressions are funny thing.
And you suffered impressins too, didn't see my sarcasm in that sentence.
Wals, I don't put into question the engine problem, heck even Theissen confirmed it twice. Quite on the contrary, I was trying to counter barteks' PR argument by putting another example from the other side.
Equally you'll notice I say "so-called excuses", as myself I've never liked much calling all excuses, instead I normally call them "explantions"
Both Nick and Robert, and about any racing driver, give explanations after the race/event. Sometimes people call it excuses, depending on their own interests and if the driver making those "explanations" is their hero or their loathed driver...
Quote:EDIT: One more thing. I dont think what Heidfeld said are excuses. He just described the situation the way he saw it. The same goes for Kubica. I think neither of them has anything to be shame of or to look for excuses. In this race Heidfeld seemed faster but he found himself - because of luck, or his own error - in bad position. Life is tough and racing is even tougher.
ANd that was absolutely my ultimate point! see? Thanks!
Racing against the machine!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:08:30:20:57:51 by J-Raid Phoenix.
Quote:sessions
No mention of RK's wing being broken in his comment. Too bad Nick chose the hards, it may have cost him a real run at the front runners. Seems he had the pace, but I think he would have faced the same fate as Fisi, trying to get around Kimi with KERS.
He was closing in during the last stint and seemed to be faster Robert,(times indicated that), but it was too little too late for any kind of challenge.
Missed opportunities ? They happen to every driver every race, I don't put as much belief in them as I use to. It's what it is, and no use crying over spilt milk.
Fourth and fifth are better than zip !
sessions
Willy Rampf (Head of Engineering):
“We were all very excited before the start because we expected some action. And this happened exactly as expected. Unfortunately, Nick lost the advantage of his strong starting position in the chicane after the Kemmel straight. After this incident he was able to maintain a very good pace and he finally clinched fifth. Robert had contact with another car right at the beginning and lost part of his front wing. We checked the aero data and decided it would not make sense to bring him into the pits, which turned out to be the right decision. Today’s result is the reward for all our hard work during recent weeks."
A couple of pcs fell off the wing which obviously had some negative aero affect and probably cost him the podium.
I do agree explanations can be interpreted as excuses. I've heard of and read statements of both Nick and Robert whining or complaining so that's a moot point. Every F1 driver is guilty of discontent at times, no ?
I guess some feel Robert had the faster car and some Nick, we can blab til the cows come home, but in the end we got decent points compared to our earlier dismal attempts.
I hate to say it but Nick and Robert are pretty much equals given all the facts. RK's future has more promise because of his age, and he may develop into a constant front runner if he lands a fast car in years to come.
sessions
regards tt
AS for RK vs. NH debate...as mentioned above they seem to be consistently, the most closely matched team mates in the field. Perfect pairing and in no interviews have I really seen them make excuses or bash each other. The feud is in the fans head!
If your angry....steer that anger towards BMW...I know I am. This is a Sauber team to me now. Jamie switch your avatar back to the Sauber "S"...it looked good
Quote:
In video above you can see how he lost part of his front wing.
Quote:doppelganger
Jamie switch your avatar back to the Sauber "S"...it looked good
Nah, I prefer this one. It shows SuperMario (literally!) driving the 06car.
See:
Perfect for the current situation!
![[:wor kid:]](/phorum-5.1.15/mods/smileys/images/13.gif "[:wor kid:]")
Racing against the machine!
Kimi deserved drive-through twice this race. First time for overtaking in the first corner outside the trace, second time for dangerous joining the field in front of Kubica. Why on earth BMW did not protest? We could have made it to the podium easily than.
Racing against the machine!