Races Review: just 3 points in first ever night GP

By BMW Sauber F1 Team
January 2 2009

The first night race in the history of Formula One was nothing if not turbulent. Both Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica faced numerous challenges on the perfectly illuminated circuit. However, one BMW Sauber F1 Team driver was able to relish a world championship points-scoring finish come the end of the 61-lap race.

In Singapore the BMW Sauber F1 Team arrived on virgin territory in more ways than one. Not only were Nick and Robert participating in the first Formula One Grand Prix to be staged in the south Asian metropolis, but Singapore was the venue for the first night race in the history of motorsport's premier formula. The »Marina Bay Circuit's« sinuous layout promised a challenging inaugural race.

The omen for a memorable 15th of 18 Grands Prix in the 2008 championship was, therefore, good, with the performances of both BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers during the preliminary sessions promising much ahead of the night race. While Robert claimed the fourth-fastest time during qualifying, Nick set a time good enough for sixth. However, the 31-year-old's joy was short-lived: in the opinion of the race stewards he crossed the racing line while heading for the pits in qualifying, in the process hindering Rubens Barrichello (Honda). Nick was relegated three grid positions.

The races of the BMW Sauber F1 Team's drivers were to be further influenced by the stewards. Either the unusually late 20:00hrs (local) start time of the event or the darkness contributed to an unexpected twist, but Nelson Piquet (Renault) crashed spectacularly into the barriers on lap 15. Although he was uninjured, the safety-car was deployed.

At that point even an economy run by Robert, at that stage in fourth place, was a lost cause. Despite the pit lane being closed, the Pole was forced to pit for fuel. Shortly thereafter Race Control awarded him a ten-second stop-and-go penalty for transgressing the rule, dropping him to the tail end of the field. A points' placing was therefore lost to the 23-year-old, who eventually finished 11th.

Thus it was left to Nick to salvage points for the BMW Sauber F1 Team, a task in which the German succeeded despite having lost numerous places during the reshuffle under the safety-car. Step by step he carved his way back through the field. After his second stop on lap 44, Nick was back in the points with eighth place. When both Jarno Trulli (Toyota) and Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) retired a few laps from the end of the race, Nick moved up to sixth to score three world championship points for the BMW Sauber F1 Team.