Report: BMW is encouraged by Heidfeld’s performance

From the first European Grand Prix, where some say the season truly begins, BMW expected a lot. Improvements and a new aerodynamic package were brought to Barcelona, and even though the team got two points thanks to Nick Heidfeld, the F1.09 is still not the best single-seater in the championship.

The engineers and the team expect further progress soon; optimizing the new developments, but winning the title will be impossible. Nick Heidfeld finishes 7th starting from 13th, while Kubica finishes 11th starting from 10th. One benefits from a good start and Trulli’s accident, while the other falls victim to it.

Nick Heidfeld – 7th:

It was a good race and I think it was even one of my best races. I was hoping for points as a birthday gift, but honestly, I didn’t believe it would happen starting from 13th position. The start was crucial, and I gained 4 places. In the first corner, I was in the middle of the debris, but fortunately, the F1 car wasn’t hit. Then, I fought against Kimi Räikkönen to keep my place, which made me slow down and lose ground on the drivers ahead. The team also did a great job by refueling me very quickly and allowing me to overtake Rosberg in the pits during the second stop. It’s a good result, and the race pace proves that the improvements provide a clear advantage. It’s good news for the rest of the season.

Robert Kubica – 11th:

« At the start, I lost a few places due to a clutch problem. But that was just the beginning of a really tough race. After the Safety Car, I had no grip at all and the car was sliding in every corner as soon as I pushed a little. I really didn’t understand what happened. Until Q3 yesterday, everything was going well and the performance was good. We need to analyze the reason. »

Mario Theissen – Director:

« We are returning to a better level for the arrival in Europe although our start and our situation after the first corner were not perfect at all. Robert [Kubica] faced traffic which made him lose 5 places and he just managed to avoid the accident. Nick [Heidfeld], on the other hand, was able to gain a few positions. »

« Then during the race, our pit crew did a fantastic job during the pit stops. They enabled Heidfeld to gain a position. Two points for a 7th place is not an outstanding result. But we are proving that our improvements are paying off and we can start from a better base. »