Kubica 7th as Alonso rams Heidfeld in a spectacular way

By BMW F1Talk
August 21 2009

Robert Kubica has succeeded in making the step up into the top ten for the BMW Sauber F1 Team in the second free practice session ahead of the European Grand Prix. A time of 1:40.643 minutes saw the Pole move up to seventh at the "Valencia Street Circuit". Nick Heidfeld was also quick for long periods of the session.

However, a spectacular collision with Fernando Alonso (Renault) prevented the German further improving his time in the final few minutes. He eventually ended the session in 17th.

The two BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers were on identical practice programmes. Following a six-lap stint, the pairing both completed a long run of 13 laps. Both Robert and Nick improved lap by lap and established themselves towards the top of the time list.

While Robert's completed a third, eleven-lap outing uneventfully, Nick's practice session came to an early end. He was gearing up for another fast lap when Alonso drove into him in a left-hand corner. The left side of Nick's BMW Sauber F1.09 was lifted into the air by the impact, and the car hit the track hard as it landed. Fortunately the 32-year-old was uninjured and able to drive his car back to the pit lane.

"I really wasn't far away from rolling," said Nick afterwards. "I saw in the mirror that Alonso was approaching with blocked wheels. I just hoped that he would somehow make the corner. However, that was not the case. That sort of thing shouldn't really happen."

And so the hopes of the BMW Sauber F1 Team rested solely on Robert going into the frantic final minutes of the session. The 24-year-old was able to improve again shortly before the end of practice to move up to seventh. The fastest man of the day was local hero Alonso with a time of 1:39.404 minutes.

Saturday's programme for the BMW Sauber F1 Team includes the final practice session at 11:00hrs, before the grid positions for the European Grand Prix are decided from 14:00hrs onwards.