Situation prior to Hungaroring Race + Facts &Stats

By BMW Sauber F1 Team
August 4 2007

Having qualified third and seventh, Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica have once again secured top-ten grid positions - thereby establishing a new record. Learn more about the Hungarian Grand Prix. Like Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica, Timo Glock has also secured a good grid position at the Hungaroring. We have compiled some interesting facts from the second day of the Hungarian GP weekend for you.

 - This weekend's Hungarian GP is the first Formula One race that Robert Kubica is contesting for the second time in his career. Last year's Hungarian GP represented the BMW Sauber F1 Team driver's maiden Grand Prix. At that time, he qualified ninth and finished seventh, but subsequently his race result was disallowed.

- Nick's best result at the Hungaroring to date was the third place he secured in 2006. At the same time, it was the first podium finish in the BMW Sauber F1 Team's still short history.

- For the twelfth consecutive race, both BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers have succeeded in securing top-ten grids positions. Currently, no other team can boast such a long streak of qualifying successes for both its drivers

- Nick shares row two on the grid with Ferrari's Kimi Räikkönen, while two rows back, Robert will start the Hungarian GP alongside Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella.

- In the team-internal qualifying battle Nick now holds a 7:3 lead over Robert.

- By qualifying third, Nick has secured the best Hungarian GP grid position in the BMW Sauber F1 Team's history.

- For Robert Kubica, it is the second time in 2007 that he will start a race from seventh position on the grid. In Malaysia, he also qualified seventh, but had to settle for finishing 18th.

- For the fourth time in his career Nick holds third position on a Formula One starting grid. He secured all these promising grid positions as a BMW Sauber F1 Team driver: in 2006, he qualified third in Italy and in 2007, he repeated this feat in Australia, Canada and now in Hungary.

- This Sunday's Hungarian GP represents the 780th World Championship round in the sport's history. The red starting lights will be switched off at 14.00hrs CEST (13.00hrs BST).

- Graining: Tyre graining is the keyword of the 2007 Hungarian Grand Prix weekend. At the Hungaroring, the wear on the supersoft tyre compound is extremely high. Following a long-run on Friday, even the white lines - which mark the 'Supersofts' - on Robert's car were completely rubbed off.

- rear-wheel-drive.com: As was the case during the French GP weekend at Magny-Cours, the rear wing of the BMW Sauber F1.07 is again decorated with the URL "rear-wheel-drive.com". In this way, the BMW Sauber F1 Team highlights the relationship between Formula One and series production. A majority of BMW production cars rely on rear-wheel drive - just like the F1.07.

- 159 practice laps: Over the course of the three free practice sessions, held on Friday and Saturday, the BMW Sauber F1 Team covered a total mileage of 696.6 kilometres. This represents more than two race distances on the 4.381-kilometre circuit.

- Timo on pole: In Hungary, Timo Glock has succeeded in once again demonstrating his driving skills. In the GP2 Series qualifying session, the BMW Sauber F1 Team test and reserve driver clocked the fastest lap time. As pole-sitter, Timo is in a promising position when it comes to defending his GP2 Series Championship lead.