Heidfeld surprised by small pace gap between teams
By BMW Sauber F1
February 26 2009
For the BMW Sauber F1 Team, the tests in Bahrain represented the first clash with its rivals over the course of the 2009 season preparations. According to Nick Heidfeld, it was a truly instructive experience that helped to gather interesting information.
"This week, I finally got the opportunity to actually tail another car.
In Valencia, all the test runs were solo," Nick revealed following the
tests at the "Bahrain International Circuit". "I have got the
impression that the new aerodynamics are going to make closing in on
the driver ahead easier."
"This certainly should make overtaking a lot easier, too" says the
31-year-old. Should this really be the case, the goal the FIA had hoped
to achieve by introducing the new aero regulations would be realised.
"I hope that this impression will be confirmed during the course of the
coming weeks," adds Nick.
Meanwhile, the German admits to have been surprised by the field's
competitiveness. "I had expected that the new regulations would result
in bigger gaps between the teams," he says. "On the other hand, we
neither know what the other teams have been working on nor how much
fuel they had aboard. Nonetheless, the teams seem to be clocking
similar lap times right from the start this year."
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We could be in for a tough season this year.
That will certainly provide a big pace step forward
Racing against the machine!
Quote:J-Raid
COme on, don't be that harsh. I sahll remind you that we are still using the same front wing as in November (which was already a very simplistic one), and most of the bodywork. That is due to change in the next tests, and especially Australia.
That will certainly provide a big pace step forward
I would panic after the last testsessions, when no new frontwing was introduced. For now, no worries.
Quote:Bouncing BulletQuote:J-Raid
COme on, don't be that harsh. I sahll remind you that we are still using the same front wing as in November (which was already a very simplistic one), and most of the bodywork. That is due to change in the next tests, and especially Australia.
That will certainly provide a big pace step forward
I would panic after the last testsessions, when no new frontwing was introduced. For now, no worries.
You can probably leave your worries elsewhere. New parts will be introduced in the coming tests. That said, BMW has got an early start in the development race, but the gap wasnīt as linear as they could have hoped.
In other words, expectations now depend on the upgrades ahead which to me is a tad disappointing at this point and therefore my opinion on Nickīs statement.
As for harsh, I donīt know if that was really intended. For me, it was a bit of a reflection.
Certainly I would like JRaid to be absolutely right, and me absolutely wrong.
Quote:Sessions, no bullying...sessions
Enough of all this Bull. Let's wait and see !