Following one of the sport’s greatest championship stories, that of Honda being resurrected as Brawn and taking both titles, comes possibly another as it was learned late last year that Ross Brawn had sold his team to Mercedes. Brawn insisted that he would continue in his roll as team principal, and so the rollercoaster ride of Brawn post-Ferrari continues.

The link to the technical director has certainly helped the transition as well, with the man almost certainly being a draw to Michael Schumacher. Despite turning 41 earlier in the year, Schumacher still has the motor sport bug in him and a return during 2009 seemed possible, the seven-times world champion testing a 2007 Ferrari. However, a neck injury sustained from a motorbike accident ended the dream for last year, but that didn’t stop the German driver. Shortly after the announcement that Mercedes would be taking over the team, Michael Schumacher was announced as the lead driver alongside fellow countryman Nico Rosberg. BMW-refugee Nick Heidfeld completes the all-German line-up as the squad’s test and reserve driver.

This isn’t the first time Mercedes have taken on the challenge of Formula One though, for the company threw some money at the sport back in 1954 and 1955. The W196 car was very successful and Juan Manuel Fangio took eight victories from twelve attempts. Fangio only retired the once and Sir Stirling Moss also took a famous first win at Silverstone in ‘55, the story being that Fangio only needed P2 to secure the championship and deliberately let Moss pass on the final lap. To this day, even Moss himself doesn’t know if this is true or not, the five-times Argentine champion passing away in 1995.

Of course with such a long and illustrious history in the motor industry and motor sport, I could discuss Mercedes-Benz from now until the end of my time, but for now at least, the marque has returned and a new silver arrows will adorn the race tracks of the world in an attempt to repeat last year’s phenomenal success.

The Mercedes livery was unveiled separately to the car itself, an event at the Mercedes museum in Stuttgart providing the backdrop to the silver colour scheme hiding the Brawn BGP-001 underneath. The car itself was finally shown to the world in early February at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit as the first group test of the year got underway. Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg took the wraps off the MGP-W01 before heading out for a few shake-down laps.

The 2010 challenger is an evolution of the championship winning Brawn from the year previous, and features a few Red Bull-esque flourishes. Interestingly, the front wing appears to have been changed very little, but the nose has certainly undergone some work. Having been narrowed and raised slightly, the front of the car is more shapely and as the line builds up and over the monocoque, the Newey-dip is there for all to see. Also drawing attention is the downward slant of the top of the car before it rises again towards the cockpit. Again, this is very reminiscent of the RB5, the car that challenged Brawn the most last time around.

The sidepods have grown in size slightly and the air-intake above the driver’s helmet is quite the work of art, looking more likely to at home on a fighter jet than a Formula One car. The rear wing looks to have been left alone and Brawn’s double diffuser is missing, the rules now banning such a device from the 2010 machines*.

The silver livery is welcomed but only as a reminder of the team’s past. If it wasn’t for the silver-finished W196s that charged around the circuits of old, one would have to seriously question the choice of colour for the MGP-W01. Whereas McLaren seem to have found a very successful way of presenting their car in silver, Mercedes’s looks dull and uninspiring. Only the little amounts red from the few sponsor’s logos and the pale Petronas blue break up the monotony of the colour scheme.

Of course, Mercedes are going to be well talked about this year, if not for the car’s performance then for Michael Schumacher’s. The multiple world champion should run well in the car and if he can keep himself out of trouble for long enough, it would seem there is little reason why further wins could not be added to the already record-breaking list. In the second seat sits a driver who has either just made the greatest move of his career, or the worse. In order for this venture to be a success for Nico Rosberg, he simply has to stamp his authority all over Schumacher. Failing to do so could mean years of obscurity, second places and bad press. Just ask Rubens Barrichello…

Mercedes’s car designation system refers to the team’s name, Mercedes Grand Prix, and the W refers to the team’s heritage, where previous versions were simply named Wagen (German for car). The final numbers are incremental, and as this is the first wagen in quite a while, it has been designated 01. Hence, MGP-W01.

Original article by BlogF1.

Meet The Cars: Mercedes MGP-W01

BMW had proven to be a successful manufacturer in Formula One, returning to the sport in 2000 as an engine supplier to Williams. When the relationship with the Grove-based team soured after ten wins and numerous podium finishes, the manufacturer bought the Sauber outfit and pursued the sport as a team. The Swiss-German operation had followed a plan and with each passing year since 2006, the squad improved and found increasing success.

In their first year as a team, BMW finished in fifth place in the constructors and claimed a podium in Hungary with Nick Heidfeld, and again in Italy thanks to newcomer Robert Kubica. The following season only saw two podiums, but their points tally almost tripled and after McLaren were disqualified, the team improved to second place in the constructors. Last year, BMW once again scored more points than previously accrued, but the reintroduction of McLaren to the championship meant the squad finished in third. A maiden victory in Canada for Kubica and the team was the highlight of the year.

Due to various rule changes for 2009, some teams have done very well this year while others have failed to keep their momentum going. McLaren, Ferrari and BMW have all been usurped by Brawn and Red Bull Racing, and while Ferrari and McLaren have slowly regained their form, BMW have continued to fall backwards.

So far this year, BMW have scored only eight points, most of which came from the rain-interrupted Malaysian Grand Prix. Much criticism has been thrown BMW’s way and while the squad have been trying to sort out the F1.09, it simply hasn’t improved in proportion to their rivals. Along with continued troubles in the economy, BMW have decided to pull the plug.

Of course, we, the employees in Hinwil and Munich, would all have liked to continue this ambitious campaign and show that this season was just a hiccup following three successful years. But I can understand why this decision was made from a corporate perspective. We will now focus sharply on the remaining races and demonstrate our fighting spirit and put in a good result as we bid farewell to Formula 1 racing. Mario Theissen.

It is not yet known if the squad will be put up for sale or if BMW will simply shut the factory down. Epsilon Euskadi have expressed interest in taking over the squad, but little more is known. Of course, as with Honda, it would be preferable for another company to take over the team, ensuring the continuation of the team and the employment of all the staff at Hinwil.

We are still working on the project, at a much slower rate obviously because we don’t have the security [2010 entry].

What we can say is that the people who were interested in helping us are still interested, which is something incredible. And if the opportunity arises, we are going to attack it, there’s no doubts about it. Joan Villadelprat, Epsilon Boss.

FOTA have stated that they will do there best to ensure the team continues in some shape or form, and the association were very helpful to Ross Brawn and Nick Fry when they decided to buy-out Honda.

This news came as a shock to both BMW pilots, and Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica will now have to find alternative drives for next season if they wish to remain in Formula One. Both drivers are talented and are highly rated. Heidfeld has outscored Kubica in one of the two full season they have been partners at BMW, and this year he is leading the Polish pilot in the championship. However, Kubica is a recognised talent and one to watch in the future. Robert has been linked with Ferrari in the past, and recent circumstances at the Maranello team have brought these rumours to the surface again.

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Kubica’s manager Daniele Morelli had the following to say:

Robert was under contract until the end of 2010, but now he’s officially on the market. Daniele Morelli, Kubica’s Manager.

One can only presume Nick Heidfeld will make a similar decision, but where the two will end up is anyone’s guess.

Image © BMW AG.

Original article by BlogF1.

BMW Withdraw From Formula One From 2010 Onwards

Image © BMW AG.

And yes, I did have to look-up the correct spelling of oo-rang-a-tang. And yes, I am assuming that is an orangutan. What, you actually think I know what I’m doing!?

Original article by BlogF1.

Caption Contest: #92

Image © BMW AG.

Original article by BlogF1.

Caption Contest: #91

My sudden absence was down to real-life work unexpectedly becoming quite serious for a few days, and although I won’t say exactly what happened, it was all hands on deck in the week leading up to the Monaco Grand Prix. By the time I finished my extended week on Saturday afternoon, I decided I wanted to get away for a couple of days. So I indulged myself in my other passion – surfing (this is the ’sport’ I actually [attempt to] do from time to time). The water was a bit lame, but that did mean I had no excuse to miss the Monaco Grand Prix and I took over the TV in a local public house and watched the race with a pint and chat with some locals.

I’m aware I have an awful lot of catching up to do; Ferrari were defeated in the courts, further discussions, all might be saved, some are expecting a couple of manufacturers to still quit, etc…* Normal service will slowly resume as I get back into the habit; you wouldn’t believe how out of practice I feel just trying to write a caption contest post – it may take me a couple of days before I’m back in the full flow. But as I always say, one thing at a time. So without further ado, here’s a long overdue photograph to caption. And this time it is Nick Heidfeld standing outside the BMW motorhome in Spain, probably wondering where all his birthday party guests are. I think the line goes something like: “They’re behind you!”

Image © BMW AG.

*Apparently all is not as well as I thought. Williams have been suspended by FOTA as they say they will/have already entered the 2010 championship. Yep, I have lots of reading to do…

Original article by BlogF1.

Caption Contest: #90

Both Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica suffered front wing damage on the opening lap, requiring them to pit and take on replacement noses. This put the team at a further disadvantage as the drivers had qualified nearer the back than the front. Needless to say, both Heidfeld and Kubica are pretty disappointed with the result today and would like to move on and forget about their races in Bahrain.

The result is a disaster. We were unlucky with the collision in the first corner. At first, I thought the suspension was broken, but I only had to have a new nose fitted in the pits. It is another race to forget. Nick Heidfeld.

My race was destroyed after corner one. I was between Nick and another car. We touched each other and I destroyed my front wing. Then, after the crash, there was a miscommunication with the pit crew. I asked to come in straight away, but was only able to pit after the second lap. Robert Kubica.

Much has been made of Ferrari taking their time in getting their 2009 campaign started, duly achieved by Kimi Raikkonen earlier today with three points going his and the team’s way. But BMW haven’t had the greatest of starts either, and the only reason they are on the points board is because Nick Heidfeld drove a mature race in Malaysia to finish in second.

If we look at the results of both teams for the opening four races, we can see that Kimi Raikkonen has generally improved as the season has progressed, whereas Nick Heidfeld has generally gone backwards, the German’s only saving grace being the second place at Sepang. For Kubica and Massa, the results have been up-and-down, with the Brazilian just missing out in Malaysia and Kubica’s highest finish being P13 in China.

BMW 2009 Results	AUS (Grid)	MAL (Grid)	CHN (Grid)	BHR (Grid)
Robert Kubica	14th (RET) (4)	19th (RET) (6)	13th (17)	18th (13)
Nick Heidfeld	10th (9)	2nd (10)	12th (11)	19th (14)
Ferrari 2009 Results
Felipe Massa	16th (RET) (6)	9th (16)	19th (RET) (13)	14th (8)
Kimi Raikkonen	15th (RET) (7)	14th (RET) (7)	10th (8)	6th (10)

According to the game plan that BMW have been so diligently following since taking over the Sauber team in 2006, they should be mounting a campaign to win the titles by now. BMW should be regularly scoring wins and taking the challenge to the sport’s front runners, previously McLaren and Ferrari. While this plan has been followed since BMW’s debut as a constructor, it appears to have all fallen apart thus far in 2009. Of course, Mario Theissen’s team are far from the extraordinary, with the mighty Ferrari getting off to a slow start and McLaren barely getting much further.

Considering BMW were among the first of the grid to produce an interim car over the winter, and they were said to have been further ahead than anyone else with their KERS, the lack of pace from the Hinwil team is still a little surprising, but that P2 in Malaysia does show promise. If BMW can fix the car with their new aero package and diffuser, they might be able to keep themselves ahead of Ferrari, Williams and Scuderia Toro Rosso. But like their Italian rivals, they need to start qualifying better and finishing more races. Well, Heidfeld is admittedly already doing that, but Kubica could start finding his way to the chequered flag more more regularity.

Original article by BlogF1.

Bahrain 2009: BMW Rue First Corner Incidents

There was drizzle in the morning but this didn’t hamper the teams too much and by lunchtime the circuit had dried and the times began to tumble. Nick Heidfeld ended Monday’s running a comfortable 0.6s ahead of Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, completing 12 more laps than the Finn and suddenly making himself known after a relatively anonymous winter so far.

Jarno Trulli continued Toyota’s impressive off-season with a third quickest time of the day, just 0.029s shy of Raikkonen. The TF109 completed 118 laps and so far the Cologne-based team are looking quite strong for the 2009 campaign. Jenson Button also impressed in the Brawn BGP 001. Despite having not completed many miles, Ross Brawn’s team looked good and comfortable. Button completed 82 laps in the Mercedes powered car, and much attention was focused on the design of the diffuser.

Also debuting in public for the first time was the STR4, having been launched earlier in the morning. Sebastien Bourdais had the honours of the first drive at Circuit de Catalunya and the Frenchmen ended the afternoon in sixth; an impressive start for the new car, although Bourdais was 0.5s slower than Nelson Piquet Jr in the Renault R29.

Mark Webber continued to drive the Red Bull RB5, but couldn’t manage a time faster than junior team Scuderia Toro Rosso. Adrian Sutil showed good pace in the Force India, lapping just 0.2s shy of Webber in eighth. Sutil said he managed a race distance as well as simulating some qualifying runs. Kazuki Nakajima was sent out for Williams while Heikki Kovalainen paced the Catalan track for McLaren. surprisingly, Kovalainen ended Monday at the bottom of the timing sheets.

Barcelona Test Day One Results Table		Lap Time Fastest Time Set	Laps Set Number Laps Set
1.	Nick Heidfeld BMW	1m20.339s	92 Laps
2.	Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari	1m20.908s	80 Laps
3.	Jarno Trulli Toyota	1m20.937s	118 Laps
4.	Jenson Button Brawn GP	1m21.140s	82 Laps
5.	Nelson Piquet Jr. Renault	1m21.662s	124 Laps
6.	Sebastien Bourdais Scuderia Toro Rosso	1m22.158s	96 Laps
7.	Mark Webber Red Bull Racing	1m22.246s	115 Laps
8.	Adrian Sutil Force India	1m22.452s	129 Laps
9.	Kazuki Nakajima Williams	1m22.813s	111 Laps
10.	Heikki Kovalainen McLaren	1m22.948s	87 Laps

Original article by BlogF1.

Barcelona Test Day One: Heidfeld Quick & Brawn Debuts

The track was wet during the morning and remained windy for most of the day, playing havoc with the cars and sending Hamilton into the barriers. The accident was minor although the team covered the MP4-24 for its journey back to the pitlane on the back of a flatbed. Once arriving outside the McLaren garage, team members surrounded the vehicle with barriers to avoid eyes landing on the details of Woking’s newest title contender.

The incident didn’t dissuade Hamilton too much though and at the end of the day the reigning champion was third fastest, resting behind Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari and ahead of Mark Webber’s Red Bull. Webber only completed 47 laps and just about kept his nose ahead of Kazuki Nakajima in the Williams, the difference in lap time being a mere 0.007s. Toyota propped up the timing sheet, with Jarno Trulli touring the circuit just 38 times. The Italian suffered damage to the front of the car after running over the kerbs.

We lost the morning to the weather but in the afternoon we had a chance to try out the 2010 Bridgestone slick tyres. The conditions remained difficult because the wind was still strong.

On one run I picked up some damage to the front wing after running over kerbs. Still, we made it through a number of runs and collected data for the future. As for this season, this test shows that things are going well for us so we can be confident. Jarno Trulli.

The next test will be Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, due to commence on this coming Monday.

Jerez Test Day Five Results Table		Lap Time Fastest Time Set	Laps Set Number Laps Set
1.	Nick Heidfeld BMW	1m20.052s	123 Laps
2.	Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari	1m20.404s	112 Laps
3.	Lewis Hamilton McLaren	1m21.272s	58 Laps
4.	Mark Webber Red Bull Racing	1m22.219s	47 Laps
5.	Kazuki Nakajima Williams	1m22.226s	54 Laps
6.	Jarno Trulli Toyota	1m23.119s	38 Laps

Image © BMW AG.

Original article by BlogF1.

Jerez Test Day Five: The Test Day That Almost Never Happened

Nick Heidfeld, BMW’s darling driver from the final season at Williams, has started 150 races, scored 200 points and claimed 1 pole position and 2 fastest laps. In his career to date, Heidfeld has looked mature and calculated on many occasions and often finished races higher up the field than other drivers would have achieved given similar circumstances. Of the races last season that were thought to be dull and uninspiring, Nick often overtook other drivers, even managing two passes in one corner at the Belgian Grand Prix.

On the other side of the garage is a driver who is said to be much faster and often talked up to being a future world champion. Robert Kubica has only raced in 40 grands prix, is yet to score a fastest lap but does have 1 pole position and 1 win to his name. Having scored 120 points, the race-to-points ratio is already looking far more promising than Heidfeld’s. Youth is perhaps Kubica’s biggest let down, and on occasion this shone through last season when comparing the two drivers. Of course, looking at the bigger picture though, youth is very much Robert’s advantage.

In 2008, the BMW team continued their progress with the F1.08 and the campaign started well with a flurry of points and podiums. In Canada, the scene of Kubica’s almighty accident just twelve months previous, the Pole won with his team mate in tow. It was Robert’s and the team’s first victory, and complemented with Heidfeld in second the race couldn’t have gone better. It was to be the only win of the season though as development of the chassis slowed as the season progressed. Heidfeld began to struggle in qualifying and Kubica became ever more outspoken towards the team as his position in the championship started to slip. The season ended with Nick on 60 points and Kubica on 75.

With a shake-up in the rules for 2009, it is anybody’s guess as to where the cars will start the year, but with some solid experience behind them, and already one race victory, BMW must surely be starting to think about mounting a serious challenge on the title. Robert Kubica managed to keep himself in the hunt right up until the penultimate race last year, so it would be obvious to pick the Pole as the majority points scorer for BMW in 2009. However, I don’t believe Heidfeld will let his team mate get away with it again, and providing the car can be built and set-up to his liking, I would expect Quick Nick to shine once again, just as he did in 2007.

So how do you think the battle of the BMW team mates will go in 2009, who do you think will come out on top?

Image © BMW AG.

Original article by BlogF1.

Heidfeld vs. Kubica: Who Will Get The Upper Hand In 2009?

The F1.09 sports the new narrow rear wing mounted higher than previous, and an adjustable front wing that sits lower and is much wider. The bodywork features no winglets or flick-ups, although the yellow warning sticker for the KERS sticks out like a sore thumb.

Last year BMW did well and won their first race, courtesy of Robert Kubica. Nick Heidfeld had a more troubled season but still managed to haul in a bounty of points which ultimately left the team just behind Ferrari and McLaren. Kubica was in the title hunt right up to the final few races and the Hinwil-based team will want to improve on this for 2009.

Last year we saw that working together we can achieve good result. For the first half of the season, we were title contenders. We were leading the drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships at certain points of the season.

Everyone remembers how it finished, and we will try to repeat the first half of the season and finish better than last year. Robert Kubica.

One of the problems the team faced during the last campaign was keeping up with the development. BMW started the season strongly, but gradually slipped off the pace. This caused some heavy criticism from Kubica, who was very outspoken about the direction the team was taking. However, with a ban on in-season testing now in place, the rate of development from the top teams will slow a little, and this could play right into the hands of BMW.

Developing a new Formula One car is always exciting, but this time there was something even more special about it. We really were starting from scratch.

First and foremost, the switch from grooved tyres to slicks means more grip, of course, but it also moves the balance of forces further forward: removing the grooves gives the front tyres proportionally a greater contact area and more grip than the rear tyres.

Because the car differs so significantly from its predecessor, we already started work on the first concept studies in February – two months earlier than normal and before the F1.08 had even started its first race. Willy Rampf.

BMW were also one of the first teams to test a KERS system, and just prior to Christmas, it was said that the squad were at such an advanced stage with the technology, they were even testing out differing strategies with it.

At BMW we have always used the Formula One project as a technology laboratory for series production. With KERS this approach takes on a whole new dimension. Formula One will reposition itself and undergo a change of image, allowing the sport to take significant strides forward in terms of public acceptance. Mario Theissen.

However, at the launch of the F1.09, team boss Mario Theissen did admit that the system may not be ready in time for Australia. And if BMW are now saying they may not have KERS ready in time, where does that leave Ferrari who have been saying the same for a while now!?

Looking back to when we started more than a year ago on KERS, that time was pure research. Then we went through a stage I would call pre-development. Now we are in the development stage.

We are still not ready to race, but if I look at what progress we have made in last 12 months, it’s amazing. We have learned so much.

We are still pushing hard. We are not ready yet. I am sure we will be ready at some point, I don’t know whether we will be ready for Melbourne. Mario Theissen.

And finally, just a quick note to say that Nick Heidfeld has dramatically changed his helmet design. Although Alonso has also altered his, the difference wasn’t enough to warrant a note in yesterday’s post. But as Heidfeld’s is substantially different (green), I added a photo below.

Photos © BMW AG.

Original article by BlogF1.

Launches 2009: BMW Take The Wraps Off The F1.09

Formula One pilots are among the best athletes in the world, enduring physical pressures like no other when they compete in a race. They are fit, healthy and very strong. But when they place themselves in situations with increased risk of injury, are they toying with their careers unnecessarily? Geoff Donahue, the director of the 2008 Tasmania Challenge has today admitted that Mark’s future involvement will be carefully considered.

Of course, there is danger all around each and every one of us, but increasing the likelihood of injury just seems a little silly, even if it is for charity. Often, drivers will have something in their contract which prohibits the pursuit of overly dangerous activities, but Webber’s obligations are apparently a little more relaxed.

Juan Pablo Montoya once famously suffered a tennis-related injury in 2005 and despite speculation at the time, the Colombian driver resolutely denied his shoulder injury was the result of coming off his motorcycle. However the injury was inflicted though, Montoya was forced to sit out two races. When Montoya returned to the cockpit in Spain he wasn’t entirely healed and paddock-insiders have since stated that Juan Pablo’s arm was often immobile after races.

Nick Heidfeld has also felt the brunt of cycling accident when he was recovering from a testing accident in 2005. While out cycling he collided with a motorbike which further added to his healing process. Heidfeld was scheduled to return to racing for the remaining three grands prix, but was ultimately forced to sit out the rest of the season.

Earlier in the year, Jenson Button laid down a challenge to eventual championship winner and fellow Briton Lewis Hamilton. Upon hearing about Button’s exploits in triathlons, Hamilton was impressed, but also convinced of his own fitness. Button suggested that the two compete in the same triathlon to settle the argument, and Lewis agreed. However, a few hours later Hamilton’s manager and father pulled his son from the challenge, stating that Lewis has to concentrate on the Formula One campaign.

Was Anthony Hamilton right to stop his son from competing? Is Webber doing the best thing by competing in the Pure Tasmania Challenge? Is Kimi Raikkonen really allowed to go snowboarding during the season? I guess drivers will always pursue a challenge to further their fitness and enjoyment of sport. Part of what they do during the off-season is to keep them in trim form, and there are always going to be inherent dangers in any sporting activity.

I hope Red Bull Racing do not restrict Mark Webber’s contract, preventing him from competing in sports away from the racetrack – it is a decision Mark has to make himself. But what do you think? Is it really sensible to compete when the risks of broken bones and other injuries significantly increases? Or should drivers be allowed to do whatever they want, knowing themselves what the risks and consequences are?

Further Reading

• Coulthard Gently Jabs Webber
• Button Does Well In Triathlon
• Why Hamilton Should Do The Triathlon With Button
• Mark Webber Sustains Broken Leg

Original article by BlogF1.

Should Drivers Compete In Potentially Dangerous Events?

Original article by BlogF1.

Nick Heidfeld Demonstrates BMW In The Snow

BMW are improving at a very steady rate and earlier this year, Polish-driver Robert Kubica took his and the team’s maiden victory. However, while Kubica has enjoyed a relatively good year, Heidfeld has endured troubles, mainly centered around qualifying and generating heat in the Bridgestone tyres. During the races though, Heidfeld’s race-craft and experience have shone through on many occasions and the team have done well yet again in retaining their pair of drivers.

Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld ave quite different styles when it comes to driving, and this may attribute to the incinsistencies in the results this season. Heidfeld has suffered the brunt of disappointment, but it should be noted that Kubica has also experienced troubles with the F1.08. Despite this though, both are very talented and combining experience with youth is a good way to go, in my opinion.

We see Nick and Robert as a strong driver pairing and Christian as an experienced test driver. We are in no doubt that we will again achieve our ambitious aims with them in the team’s fourth year. Mario Theissen.

The former Sauber and Williams driver was pleased with the announcement, and spoke of achieving everything he and the team set out to do this season. Of course, team mate Kubica has gone one better, but providing the F1.09 is a continuation of the squad’s improvement, then there is little reason why Heidfeld cannot take his maiden victory next year.

I’ve always said that I was happy to stay with BMW Sauber because we’ve managed to achieve what we set out to do at this stage and I really hope that we will be battling it out for the title itself next year.

There have been times this season when neither I nor the team could honestly say that we were satisfied with the way things were going, but we have always pulled together and come through. Nick Heidfeld.

This news almost wraps up the silly-season for this year. Ferrari, McLaren, BMW, Williams, Toyota, Red Bull Racing and Force India are sorted for pilots. The only seats yet to be confirmed are the two at Renault, the two at STR and one at Honda.

Original article by BlogF1.

BMW Retain Nick Heidfeld, Robert Kubica & Christian Klien For 2009

It wasn’t all one-sided though, as Barrichello has to cough up €10,000 to the FIA for not using the pitlane entrance deceleration zone correctly. The Honda driver was hampered by Heidfeld and decided to come into the pits at the last moment, not moving his car offline prior to slowing down to the mandatory speed.

The last part of the circuit was so tight and I watched the mirrors but you don’t see cars coming. When I saw him [Rubens] I tried to do the best I could to get out of the way. After the white line I tried to be as quick into the pitlane without moving completely right and going into his way. It was the best I could do. But apparently not enough. Nick Heidfeld.

These penalties put Rubens out of pocket and Nick back in ninth, promoting Sebastian Vettel, Timo Glock and Nico Rosberg up one place each.

Original article by BlogF1.

Nick Heidfeld Hit With Grid Penalty

Sebastian Vettel equalled his impressive run from yesterday by going fourth once again, and after a strong run in the morning, the car was handed to the German’s team mate, Sebastien Bourdais. The French driver lapped 0.9s slower than Vettel, but Bourdais could have been trying out different strategies with the Scuderia Toro Rosso. Also sharing a car were Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button. The pair propped up the timing sheet, going eleventh and twelfth respectively. As with Scuderia Toro Rosso, the post-lunch driver set the slower time.

Fernando Alonso was out in force for Renault and managed to get himself into sixth, just 0.2s down on Felipe Massa in the Ferrari. Also testing today today was Adrian Sutil for Force India and Jarno Trulli once again in the Toyota. Mark Webber was the busiest man of the day, completing 101 tours of Monza and settling for eighth in the Red Bull. The times were not as close today than they were yesterday, with the difference between the fastest and the slowest being 2.4s. On Wednesday, the difference was only 1.1s.

Monza Test: Day Two Times

Original article by BlogF1.

Monza Test Day Two: Heidfeld Responds By Going Fastest

The stewards spoke to both drivers after the incident and despite pleas from Heidfeld, citing his moment with Sebastien Bourdais in Hungary three weeks ago as a similar altercation that led to the French driver receiving a five grid-slot penalty. However, the stewards feel no action should be taken on Glock and the matter has been dropped.

The Stewards after hearing the explanation of both the competitors representatives and the drivers decided that the incident requires no further action. Steward’s Statement.

I didn’t get to watch qualifying so I cannot comment as I usually do and offer opinion. However, if you did see the incident, feel free to say if the stewards are right, or if Heidfeld has been hard-done by.

Original article by BlogF1.

Glock Gets Heidfeld’s Finger, But Escapes Penalty

Image Copyright © Motorsport.com/xpb.cc.

Original article by BlogF1.

Caption Contest: #52

The incident occurred at the very end of the first qualifying session, and Heidfeld was struggling with his BMW and was under-impressing around the tight and twisty circuit. As the German driver approached the final right-hander that leads onto the start/finish straight, he caught Bourdais in the Scuderia Toro Rosso. From the camera view atop Heidfeld’s F1.08, it didn’t look as though he was too close to the STR, but Heidfeld raised his hand in anger as the pair crossed over the timing beacon.

I’m totally disappointed. It looked quite good at the end of yesterday’s practice and also this morning. But on my last lap in Q1 I had four cars in my way. Most of them at least tried to give me room, but it still cost me time.

Towards the end of the lap I had one car in front which was on an out lap. He saw me and accelerated.

He then overtook Sebastien Bourdais before the last corner, and then Sebastien was right in my way. I was hoping it was so obvious he would be penalised right away and I could still get into Q2. Nick Heidfeld.

During the Live Blog, most felt that Bourdais was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and he could do little to get out of the way. I share this opinion as it appeared that Heidfeld only really caught the ChampCar champion mid-corner. What was Bourdais supposed to do? I personally find the penalty unfair on Bourdais’s part and put the incident down to a simple racing qualifying incident. As Heidfeld said, he had four cars in front of him during his last-ditch attempt to improve, so maybe BMW should improve their qualifying strategy and allow their drivers some more time during the sessions to set laps. And maybe Heidfeld should sort out his one-lap issues so he isn’t fighting just to get out of Q1.

Sour grapes, I say…

Original article by BlogF1.

Sebastien Bourdais Receives Five Grid-Slot Penalty

The last time a Briton won at Silverstone was in 2000, that year the race went to David Coulthard. Hamilton has now become the eleventh (twelfth if you rightly include Tony Brooks) British winner of the British Grand Prix and it was the McLaren driver’s seventh victory in Formula One; the team’s 159th.

It is definitely and by far the best victory I’ve ever had. It was one of the toughest races I have ever done. I was thinking out there if I win it it will be the best race I have ever done, not just because of the home crowd.

On the last laps I could see the crowd starting standing up, and I was praying, praying ‘just finish’. You can imagine the emotions going on inside and I wanted to get it around. Lewis Hamilton.

Nick Heidfeld has been suffering in qualifying lately and the German driver has been complaining of temperature problems with his Bridgestone tyres. However, yesterday Heidfeld put his BMW in fifth and today he brought it home in second, consoling the team after team mate Robert Kubica retired.

It was a good race. I am happy with second place because today it was the best I could achieve. Qualifying went well and in the race we did everything right. Obviously it was crucial to make the right tyre decisions.

At the first stop we were wondering if we should stay with the used set of inters, but luckily we then decided on new tyres. We were expecting a small shower, but when I drove down Hanger Straight and saw a black wall in front of me I thought I should expect more than that.

The most difficult moments in the race were when cars were overtaking me who had been lapped, but were just on better tyres for the conditions at that time. There was so much water and I couldn’t see where it was lying. Once before Abbey I almost spun, but just managed to keep the car on the track. Nick Heidfeld.

Rubens Barrichello gave Honda something to shout about as the most experienced driver in Formula One finished in third after starting the race in sixteenth. Barrichello drove a mature and outstanding race and for me, is the driver of the day. While Lewis won, he had the car underneath him to do just that, Rubens has a dog under him – his qualifying position proving that. But the Brazilian drove superbly in the difficult conditions and fully-deserves his podium.

I never lost the belief I have in me with the speed and everything. It was obviously a lucky day and it seemed to happen to me. I love the wet weather conditions but it was a perfect race.

We had a minor problem on the pitstop. I thought I had the fuel already but they didn’t let me go. But that was a minor problem because it was the right decision for us to take extreme wet tyres.

I was passing people from inside to outside, it was just magic. So I thought that was a good decision because I went off at Club and nearly hit the wall. It was Club and Abbey that were the most difficult ones. I said I am coming in and coming in for the extremes.

I have this great feeling, it is like I am young. I am smiling to the problems and I am working more. I love the sport, I love the speed and I cannot live without it. Rubens Barrichello.

Ross Brawn, Honda’s team principal, paid tribute to Barrichello’s drive as well, praising his driver and remembering the times they spent at Ferrari together.

Rubens had a great race. He really pushed when he had to, and the middle of the race was fantastic. It was a bit like old days. The team did a great job as well. Some great calls during the race and we had the right tyres at the right time.

We had a problem with the fuel rig which really probably cost us second place, so that’s frustrating, but we shouldn’t be too greedy. Ross Brawn.

David Coulthard, competing in his final British Grand Prix, lasted all of about two minutes. The Red Bull made contact with the Scuderia Toro Rosso and both slid off onto the the grass. It wasn’t Coulthard’s finest moment from his 15 year career, but the Scot put his hand up, accepted blame and apologised.

I’m extremely disappointed and sorry for the team. I’ve taken out two Red Bull cars so that’s obviously the worst case scenario. You have to take your opportunities when they come in a race like this and I thought I saw a gap. Unfortunately it turned out it was a bad decision.

The visibility was incredibly bad as you can imagine. I was very close to Sebastian after Abbey, as he had a wobble coming out of there. There was a clear gap down the inside, but unfortunately it was closing as I made the move.

I’m sorry for him that we made contact and went into the gravel, I’m sorry for Red Bull too, as it was two cars out in one hit. I’m extremely disappointed for this to happen at my last British Grand Prix. David Coulthard.

Coulthard’s team mate, Mark Webber, had a better weekend, the Australian qualifying on the front row. However, his race was almost over sooner than David’s after Webber spun on the opening lap, undoing all his hard work from Saturday. Even though Webber would go on to drive a very well-managed race and reclaim many of the lost positions, it so easily could have been much, much better.

Unfortunately I dropped it on the entrance to Becketts on the first la. I was quite close to Kimi [Raikkonen] and just got on the white line. I lost the car on the exit and had to let the field go past, so it was clear to spin back round.

After that it was about making the right call for the right conditions. It was a difficult day to go car racing and it just didn’t go our way today. The guys did a good job all week and it’s a shame we couldn’t convert our good qualifying performance. Mark Webber.

Fernando Alonso was upbeat after the race, despite losing out for being on the worn tyres rather than getting a new set at the pit stop. The decision cost the Spaniard a lot of time and he may have even lost a podium because of it. However, the conditions at Silverstone were difficult and Alonso was just happy to have added a few points towards his campaign.

Like every time it rains, anything can happen and that was the case. There were times when you had the right tyre and others when you had the wrong one and you had to keep the others at bay and try to stay on track because you knew it would be a good result.

It’s not bad. It’s a good feeling. Sixth position is three points that are good for the drivers’ and the constructors’ championships. We missed a chance because Barrichello finished on the podium and maybe we could have been there, but it’s okay. Fernando Alonso.

On the final lap Kazuki Nakajima lost seventh place to Jarno Trulli, but despite this and all his spins, the Japanese driver still managed to collect one point for Williams after a weekend the team will want to very quickly move on from.

It was good to score a point again, but it was a shame to lose seventh place to Jarno on the last lap. His tyres were in a better condition than mine, though, and he was just a bit quicker than me in the final laps when the track was drying out.

It was enjoyable out there today, although a little hard to control the car in the opening and closing stages. The team made a really good decision to put me on the extreme wets at just the right time and so I was able to manage the car well in such wet conditions. Kazuki Nakajima.

Original article by BlogF1.

Silverstone 2008: Post-Race Quotes

So does the four-point difference between the drivers mean that Heidfeld may be given the boot at the end of the year? Well, we are just five rounds into the 2008 season, and Heidfeld has shown consistency, intelligence and determination in his career to date. It is also worth mentioning that Heidfeld is the only German driver on the team, the next closest being Austria’s Christian Klien. As BMW are a manufacturer though, perhaps it makes less of a difference to the team where the drivers come from, but it certainly isn’t a bad thing for Nick that he hails from the same country as BMW.

It is also worth mentioning, that if Kubica does indeed go on to beat Heidfeld in the championship this year, that is in no way a bad thing. Okay, it is for Heidfeld, but for the team, does it really matter who is on top? Providing Heidfeld can continue to score podiums and points, and maybe wins in the future, BMW would do very well in keeping him around as well. In fact Heidfeld’s boss, Mario Theissen, went on record today defending the situation his driver is in.

In the races, however, Nick makes us happy with his spectacular overtaking manoeuvres.

Now we are going to analyse the entire package together with Nick to get to the bottom of the [qualifying] problem. Mario Theissen.

I’m not so sure Nick’s passes are “spectacular”, but the German driver does overtake. In fact, Nick made one of the few overtaking moves (if not the only move) in Spain a fortnight ago.

There is a spanner though, and it could very easily become lodged in the workings of the BMW squad. The spanner comes in the form of Fernando Alonso, and he is by no means a spanner, but instead a double world champion who must be seen as a tremendous asset to any team.

Fernando is rumoured to have a ‘get-out’ clause in his current Renault contract, and although he has denied this, I can’t believe he doesn’t. When the Spaniard re-joined Renault at the end of 2007, he was well aware the car wouldn’t be as great as the last one he drove in 2006. Any driver with any sense would have negotiated a ‘get-out’ clause into the contract, performance-related, perhaps.

Also, Alonso is a racing driver in every sense of the word. He wants to be in the best car at the best time to extract the best from everything, himself included. Clearly the R28 is not the best car at the moment, but the world champion had few choices available last year. But for 2009? Don’t tell me Alonso isn’t looking around at what’s available at the moment? He may not move, but you can’t tell me he isn’t looking!

And thus, we come back to BMW. If Mario Theissen saw the opportunity to put Alonso in one of his cars, would he be able to resist the temptation and stick with the ever-faithful Heidfeld and/or the ever-improving Kubica? I’m not so sure. BMW are one of Formula One’s next top teams – the drivers can see that as can the fans. I’m positive if a berth was available last year, Alonso would have been banging on the doors at Hinwil. Alas there wasn’t, but things change.

BMW have said they will make an announcement on their 2009 driver line-up in the Summer, the deadline for Kubica’s extension expiring in September. I wouldn’t be surprised if Alonso and BMW held talks, just as I wouldn’t be surprised if Alonso joined BMW next year.

Original article by BlogF1.

Theissen Defends Heidfeld As Kubica Negotiates Extension

Surinder Thatthi, chairman of CACMS, and Morrie Chandler, president of the WRC have spoken to one another about the scruffy appearance of Loeb, particularly when the television cameras focus on him, which I’m sure you can imagine, is quite a lot.

I watched the WRC Mexico highlights last night and I have to voice my opinion on the poor appearance of Sebastien Loeb on WRC-TV. He was unshaven, scruffy looking and with unkempt hair!!

It is wrong…..when the FIA gives him global TV coverage to millions of viewers and to many children worldwide he is a hero and role model [...] I know there is a level of personal freedom one is allowed but I feel he is taking this too far and someone should talk to him or his team about this. Surinder Thatthi.

Chandler responded with the following.

Yes I watched the same as you did [...] Unfortunately it is not a problem that is unique to our sport as the same happens in football and other “male” sports.

Of course these persons are an insult to real males. My only solution is that we suggest to [rallying rights holders] ISC that the camera does not cover them close up. Morrie Chandler.

Chandler’s response was also sent to Simon Long, the ISC managing director, who took a lighter view of the situation.

I do feel that it is precisely Sebastien’s “ruggedly good-looking” appearance which has helped endear him to so many new and young fans both in France and around the world. Simon Long.

Autosport are reporting that it was news agency Reuters that saw the emails and have since published them. But isn’t this just a load of utter nonsense? I remember Jacques Villeneuve turning up to racing circuits looking like a teenager, baggy t-shirts and jeans to boot. The 1997 world champion would often dye his hair, and in fact it was bleached the very day he won his title. Johnny Herbert would also occasionally forget to stand close to his razor on the morning of a race, and I don’t think Nick Heidfeld even bothers anymore. Oh, and please let us not forget Fernando Alonso’s facial hair in 2006. While his little beard was neat and trim, it was also quite funny.

So what next? Are the FIA going to ban close-ups of Nick Heidfeld. Maybe they could photoshop images of Villeneuve so history will show a more smart appearance of previous racers? Maybe they could buy David Coulthard a multi-pack of Gillette blades and wag their finger at him until it fell off? The finger, that is.

Honestly, do me a favour FIA, shut up. I honestly didn’t think the actions of the governing body of the WRC or Formula One could get any more ridiculous. I’m afraid to say they just have. Shouldn’t the FIA be focusing on other things right now…?

Original article by BlogF1.

Villeneuve Was Lucky, But Heidfeld Should Be Worried

It is nice to give the workforce something back. Nick Heidfeld.

Heidfeld eventually damaged his front wing with his driving antics, but more than 5,000 people attended to watch the F1.08 in action.

We’re well aware that a lot of people in the various departments are keenly following our fortunes and have bets on our results. However, it is not possible to involve the workforce properly at the circuits, so we had to come up with something special instead.

It is wonderful to see the BMW employees getting behind the sport. Support from within the company really helps us and gives us extra incentives. Mario Theissen.

BMW currently lead the constructors title by a point, while Heidfeld sits in second in the driver’s race with team mate Robert Kubica in joint-third (officially fourth when results a back-counted). BMW will be hoping they can continue their pace in to the European season which begins in Barcelona this weekend.

Original article by BlogF1.

Nick Heidfeld Praises Munich Factory Employees

I talked to Charlie Whiting on Saturday night, not about the specific case but about the issue of having cars with a differential speed of 200km/h on the same lap. It is something that must not happen. Mario Teissen.

I don’t think you’ll find many people disagreeing with Mario’s statement; 200km/h impacts can kill. In fact, they have. I don’t know at what speed Gilles Villeneuve was doing when he came across Jochen Mass in the ‘82 Belgian Grand Prix qualifying session, but it was sufficient enough to make me wince when I saw the video. For younger readers who may not know, Villeneuve and his seat were thrown clear of the car, his helmet came off and a fence stopped the Canadian at the side of the track. Villeneuve died from his injuries later that evening.

When Theissen was later asked if the FIA (whom Whiting works for as race director) would change the rules, the BMW boss gave a confident “absolutely” in reply. I for one hope it was a genuine approval from the FIA. While the tragic circumstances in which Villeneuve died are unlikely to reoccur, violent accidents still happen when fast cars meet slow cars. Robert Kubica’s accident at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was less than twelve months ago. I don’t believe in luck, but I think I’m allowed to contradict myself and suggest the Pole had some that day.

There has been many suggestions put forward across the F1-blogosphere regarding a solution, but it seems that a maximum lap time is the one currently being discussed by the FIA. We shall wait and see what idea, if any, Formula One’s governing body come up with. Although I’m already confident it will be unnecessarily convoluted, complex, hard-to-police and down-right stupid. But then, I just want to see cars driving at their fastest without penalty of fuel or tyres. That, in my mind, is what qualifying is.

Image courtesy of BMW.

Original article by BlogF1.

Theissen Wants Changes Made To Qualifying

I was on my last lap, my first lap on the option tyres, which was the quickest and should have been even quicker, if not for the two McLarens driving in the middle of the racing line at 80 or less km/h, while I was doing 289. It was not really normal, and that just caused me some laptime.

I think this has cost me about two tenths of a second, which would have meant being third instead of seventh. I just couldn’t drive on the line I wanted and, even more importantly, could not brake were I wanted. Nick Heidfeld.

For me, the decision is important because of another fact – the difference in speed between Nick and two slow cars was more than 200 km/h – which was a very dangerous situation. Mario Theissen.

McLaren have said they will not appeal the decision and accept the punishment handed to them.

We accept the stewards’ decisions, but would like to add that neither Lewis nor Heikki impeded any of their competitors deliberately. It was an unfortunate incident, nothing more, nothing less. We look forward to tomorrow’s race. Martin Whitmarsh.

Original article by BlogF1.

McLaren Drivers Penalised

The fact that Heidfeld had to move off-line to pass and weave in and out should mean that those offending drivers be hauled up in front of the stewards and penalised. Among those who remained on the racing line was fourth placed driver Lewis Hamilton and third placed driver and team mate Heikki Kovalainen.

The issue came about because the cars go into the third phase of qualifying with race-fuel levels, and as soon as each driver completes his fast lap he backs off to conserve as much fuel as possible. This allows for a longer first stint in the race and saves time on pitstops because less fuel has to be pumped into the car.

But this race-fuel system has now been shown to actually cause unnecessary danger to other drivers as well as adding an extra complexity to the proceedings that isn’t needed. Nick Heidfeld was at full tilt and at one point it is clear from the TV cameras the German was forced off-line to pass two cars before struggling to get back on to the racing line before the corner.

Nick Heidfeld qualified seventh for tomorrow’s race, one second off Felipe Massa’s pace. Importantly though, Nick is only 0.15s shy of Kovalainen in third, such is the close competitiveness of this group at the moment.

Original article by BlogF1.

Heidfeld Compromised In Qualifying

Today though, Clive is talking about one of his favourite teams, BMW. Take it away my good man…

Apart from the battle between drivers for the WDC, another contest takes place within the teams: each driver’s fight to be better than his team mate. And it seems to me that the most interesting of the forthcoming struggles will be between the two BMW drivers, Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica. They form an excellent pairing, so well matched in their differing abilities that they are very hard to separate.

Often referred to as Quick Nick, the German has been in F1 long enough to be considered an old hand and many deem that he has had his chance and never come up to expectations. It is true, too, that he has not displayed that star quality so evident in drivers like Raikkonen and Alonso. General consensus remains that he is competent yet uninspired, quick but without that something extra needed to be a champion.

Yet Nick does have something that is easily overlooked. I was listening to a recent podcast from Formula 1 Blog and the presenters, partially in jest, really nailed that extra quality that Nick possesses; they decided he was the driver they would least like to meet down a dark alley one night, in spite of his mere 5′ 5″ height. Strangely, that says it all about Heidfeld – his quietness gives a hint of the fierce determination that resides within.

With Robert Kubica in the second BMW, Nick needs every ounce of his resolve to stay ahead. The Pole arrived in F1 with a bang, scoring a point on his first outing and grabbing third spot in the Italian GP of 2006. He seemed to be a very bright prospect for BMW in the following season as a result.

After a slow start and a horrendous crash in the Canadian GP, Robert began to pay off on those expectations and, by the end of the year, he was matching Nick for pace. In testing during the winter break, he has been consistently setting the quickest BMW times and it looks once again as though he will carry this over into the coming season.

And I will admit that Robert makes me fear for my prediction of Heidfeld for 2008 champion. But I console myself with this thought: Kubica has always looked very quick in testing. Throughout 2006, he was so often at the top of the time sheets that it made perfect sense for Mario Theissen to give him a few races in Villeneuve’s car. But his race performance is not quite so convincing. It may be that Robert has a lot to learn before he can convert his testing speed into race positions.

It’s a slim hope for me, however. Robert learned a lot in his first season and can only get better. He seems to have come to terms with the problems of the F1.08 faster than his team mate and so may start the early races with a lead on Nick. But I will stick by my original guess and must therefore say that Nick’s experience and determination will see him through another year of scoring more points than Kubica. After that, it’s most likely that the Pole will gain the upper hand.

Whatever happens, this BMW pairing promises to be the fiercest and most interesting of all the team mate battles. Hamilton/Kovalainen could be close, Alonso/Piquet may have potential for fireworks, but the most likely outcome for both pairings is that a number one will swiftly emerge. With Heidfeld/Kubica the struggle will last all year and the final outcome is very difficult to call. They won’t push each other off but, at the same time, you can bet they will not be doing each other any favours!

Clive writes for F1 Insight.

Original article by BlogF1.

F12008: Guest Post On Heidfeld & Kubica

It is, as always, difficult to judge cars during pre-season testing, and while Ferrari have opted for private testing for some of the winter, I think it would be a little foolish to suggest they won’t be joint-favourites for the 2008 titles with McLaren. But that isn’t all that has happened over the winter, as Renault welcome the return of double world champion Fernando Alonso and Red Bull look more reliable and innovative.

This could spell trouble for Mario Thiessen and his team. The squad are still yet to win a race and the gap between them and the teams in front, although small, is very hard to make up. What’s more, during testing this year we have seen the midfield pack very closely bunched together. At times it was a second that separated the top twelve or so drivers. This implies the teams are finding ways to improve in different areas and the field is leveling out a little. This won’t necessarily transfer to the race track, but it should be a cause for concern for BMW. One slip up and they won’t be losing a couple of places, they could find themselves nearer the back and struggling to regain positions.

So how have BMW attempted to, at minimum, retain their third position in the general order?

The Drivers

For a start, the team have wisely opted to keep both drivers onboard. Stability on the driver side of things helps a team immeasurably, providing of course you have decent pair of pilots to begin with. The engineers know how the drivers behave, what they like and where they are weak. The drivers are able to learn what feedback the team needs and relationships generally flourish over time. Michael Schumacher and Ferrari are possibly the finest example of this.

Nick Heidfeld, the seemingly quiet German who, in his own words “likes to party between races” has been given a new lease of life at BMW. His performances show a mature driver who keeps his head down and gets on with the job. He doesn’t have the personality of Montoya at a race meeting, nor does he have the immense speed of Hakkinen, or Raikkonen. But what Heidfeld does have is a level head that makes decisions based on logic. There is no question in my mind that he has helped BMW as much as they have helped him and the combination of the two is a good fit. I’m not so sure Heidfeld has the ability to win the championship, but he can certainly become a multiple race winner and challenge the considered best in the sport on occasion.

Robert Kubica is a good match for Heidfeld. The Pole has talent and has received many complimentary comments from other drivers. At times he seems a little young, making a few moves that a wiser head may not, but this is called competitive spirit and Kubica has it by the bucket-load. Robert has the ability to push his team mate and keep him on his toes, but currently loses out to experience. Last time around, Heidfeld scored 61 points, Kubica brought home 39 points. It was a good result, the pair finished in fifth and sixth in the drivers title, just behind the top four. But even taking the missed race for Kubica into account, the numbers suggest he needs up his pace or make fewer errors.

Watching Robert develop as a Formula One driver is fascinating and will undoubtedly continue to be so. He has courage and ability and there is little doubt in my mind he has what it takes to win in the future. BMW will do well to keep their current line-up for a couple more years at least.

The Car

The F1.08 causes me concern. When it was launched in January it looked great. I believe I even said I actually liked the look of it – something of a rarity for me to say. Initial testing went well and the car looked like a decent development of the F1.07. It wasn’t anything special, but it was certainly solid. However, as testing went on the BMW drivers appeared to fall down the timing sheets. By the time the final test at Barcelona was over, BMW had fallen off the radar and were, on the last day, languishing in fourteenth and seventeenth. Testing should be looked at with an open mind, but a top team shouldn’t really be floundering like that at the final big test prior to a season start.

In late January when the circus rolled into the Valencia paddock, BMW unveiled a striking new feature on their car. They updated the aerodynamics on the nose cone, adding horns that protrude from the side and curve upwards. This striking new addition caused a lot of humour around the paddock and media, but in hindsight I’m wondering if this semi-radical update came at a time when the squad realised that the F1.08 wasn’t all that special. Teams often do this when they know they’re in trouble; they’ll append anything to the car in the hope they might strike it lucky and find something that works. Having said that, the team did play around with ‘nose-towers’ last year so maybe they’re just innovating?

The Prediction

I would dearly love to say a win is on the cards for BMW this year. 2007 saw only Ferrari and McLaren win, and while the competition was good, I did get a little tired of the same old national anthems. Of course, most of us older fans are probably very tired of the German anthem but that’s a whole other story.

I can’t see BMW breaking into the top two and making it three. Woking and Maranello are just too far ahead the moment. I can see either BMW pilot getting a pole though, maybe acquiring a couple of fastest laps and hopefully, providing Fernando Alonso doesn’t add too many of those six-tenths he speaks of, the drivers should spend some more time on the podiums.

Original article by BlogF1.

F12008: BMW

Last season the team ran with vertical wings on the front of the F1.07 for a short while, but the FIA quickly banned them saying that they could inhibit vision for the driver. Now though, while the nose does have vertical wings sprouting out the sides of the nose, they are angled better, mimicking the horns on either side of the top air intake. Whether it works or not is almost irrelevant when the makes car look awful.

Photographs Of The Remodelled F1.08

Original article by BlogF1.

BMW Give F108 A Nose Job

Robert Kubica, piloting the second car for his second full season, is also hopeful of a race win in 2008, mirroring his team mates comments.

Let’s hope as Nick mentioned we have done really big progress compared to 2006/2007 and I believe all people who have worked on this car have given maximum. We have the right people in right place to show to the fans that maybe we can win a race this season.

I know a bit more than everybody who is here about the new car and I believe this car will help me and Nick to maybe win a race. We have to maximize our performance and score as many points as possible, and let’s hope we have much more points as last season. Robert Kubica.

BMW’s technical director Willy Rampf is confident the car can challenge Ferrari and McLaren, but is also remaining cautious about their development over the winter and refused to get involved in any possible hype that may be growing.

We are confident, but it all depends on the competition and we will see in Melbourne how strong the competition is. With the product we see here we are confident.

To achieve the target of having a more stable and forgiving car, one is aero to be very stable and not losing downforce during cornering, and in mechanical side to have good feedback and improve grip levels. The most obvious part that is different is the front wing, it is quite a massive front wing, but with this we achieve that it is less sensitive in cornering to side winds. The turning vanes optimized to have higher downforce levels, so aero efficiency is one of the main issues.

The biggest changes are on the electronic side, the ban of TC and engine braking, so overall we expect the cars will be more nervous and drivers easier to make mistakes and one of the keys was to make a car more stable and more forgiving and one that gives good feedback to the driver. Willy Rampf.

And aside from launching a new car, BMW also spoke of the recent suggestion from Honda regarding budget capping in Formula One. It seems as though the Swiss-German team are in favour of the idea, brought back to the table by Ross Brawn earlier in the month.

Cost reduction certainly is desirable, we support that and have always supported that, and the idea of a budget cap I think it looks at a first glance quite attractive.

We should at least spend some time on evaluating how it could work – what would be the cap, what would be included and how to police it. I would certainly prefer a budget cap over a limitation in specific areas. Mario Thiessen.

And continuing his thoughtful and insightful prose on the current state of the regulations, Mario spoke words that echo just about every fan of the sport; he disagrees with the limiting of wind tunnel usage, citing policing as a very good reason.

Firstly it [wind tunnel capping] would not be fair because all the different teams come from different baselines. Secondly it’s almost impossible to police and thirdly I think the challenge is to spend our resource where you get the most performance. Mario Thiessen.

I think I have a new candidate for the successor of Max Mosley, as Mario has just climbed another couple of rungs on my respect ladder.

Photographs Of The F1.08

Original article by BlogF1.

BMW F108: More Information & Photos

We have come quite a long way in the two and a half years since the new team was created. We’ve had two strong seasons. We’ve put a lot of effort into the new car and the F1.08 includes everything we’ve learned in the first two years. Certainly we are very confident to turn the battle in front of us into a battle of more than two teams this year.

If you look back to what we achieved last year we can claim to have been the third strongest force on the grid while we were ramping up the team. So we are at full strength now and we are really looking forward to the new season. Mario Theissen.

The Hinwil factory, where BMW are sited following the aquisition of Sauber in 2005, now holds 430 employees, while the factory in Munich has a staff count of 300. According to Thiessen, this is mid-field size, but BMW have big ambitions, extensive resources and are looking to make a leap forward this season.

I am very, very excited because I know the people in the factory are quite happy with the progress. And honestly it is the most beautiful car I have ever seen. I know that doesn’t mean anything in terms of speed, but just because of that I’m looking forward to the next couple of days and weeks even more.

In theory we should be able to close the gap further to the cars ahead of us and the clear goal for us this year is to win a race. Nick Heidfeld.

Photographs Of The F1.08

Original article by BlogF1.

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