Saturday: BMW Sauber enjoys its last qualifying session
The BMW Sauber team hopes to bow out of Formula 1 on a relatively good note after achieving a double top-ten result in the qualifying session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this Saturday. With the manufacturer withdrawing from the sport after this weekend and the team, now owned by Swiss investors Qadbak, still not […]
The BMW Sauber team hopes to bow out of Formula 1 on a relatively good note after achieving a double top-ten result in the qualifying session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this Saturday. With the manufacturer withdrawing from the sport after this weekend and the team, now owned by Swiss investors Qadbak, still not securing a place on next year’s grid, Kubica and Heidfeld have locked down the fourth row.
With BMW, many predicted them as early title contenders for the season before the start of 2009, after undergoing a disastrous campaign in which the parent company announced it was withdrawing, following an announcement in July, future Renault driver, Robert Kubica leads the way with a seventh place on the grid at Yas Marina.
Robert Kubica – 8th and 7th:
«Unfortunately, I missed the second free practice session yesterday. As a consequence, I had no experience of the track conditions at that time of day. The conditions were completely different compared to the third free practice session. The lower temperatures had a significant effect on the car’s balance. In the end, qualifying seventh is quite perfect for me, and I am optimistic that we can fight for points tomorrow. »
Nick Heidfeld – 5th and 8th:
I think my eighth position is perfect. On the last lap, there was a small chance to improve, but I had traffic with Mark Webber in front of me, and besides, there’s no guarantee that lap would have been faster. Considering the amount of fuel, I’m satisfied with my position on the grid. The tires seem to be holding up remarkably well, which means it could pay off if you stay on track longer. The setting sun was a bit better than yesterday, but the circuit is built in such a way that you have it in your face in just one corner. For our last race tomorrow, I hope for the whole team, to achieve a good result by scoring points with both cars.
Mario Theissen – Technical Director BMW:
The result of this qualifying session is more or less what we expected. It was good to see both our cars in the top ten. In the final part of the qualifying, the gaps were very close. But we finished seventh and eighth. Now, it will be important to see when the first pit stops occur. Today, everything went technically without any issue.
