Mixed fortunes for BMW drivers during Hungarian quali

BMW Sauber F1 Team driver Robert Kubica qualified fourth in the heat at the Hungaroring in Budapest. Meanwhile for Nick Heidfeld qualifying was a total disappointment. After a promising free practice session in the morning he found several cars in his way when he was on his second fast lap in Q1. He lost so much time behind other cars that he did not even make it into Q2.

Robert Kubica:
BMW Sauber F1.08-05 / BMW P86/8
Qualifying 4th, 1:21.281 min (3rd Practice: 18th, 1:21.975 min)
“I am really happy with the result. This was certainly one of my best qualifying sessions so far this season. I was not expecting to start from fourth as the car has been quite difficult to drive over the entire weekend. We struggled a bit with the balance, but in the end I was able to make the harder tyre compound work very well and here we are. I am now looking forward to the race.”

Nick Heidfeld:
BMW Sauber F1.08-07 / BMW P86/8
Qualifying 16th, 1:21.045 min (from Q1) (3rd Practice: 6th, 1:21.096 min)
“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.”

Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director: “It was a very tight battle at the front with marginal time differences. We expected to see McLaren on the front row. Robert did a very good last lap and secured fourth, which means he will be starting in between the two Ferraris. Certainly Nick’s result is disappointing. He complained several times about traffic on his last, and important fast lap and missed getting into Q2. We should be very happy if he scores a point from this grid position.”

Willy Rampf, Technical Director: “Robert’s performance was faultless, and he got the most out of the car. Starting from fourth is an excellent position. Instead for Nick it didn’t go as expected. He reported traffic on his last lap. For him we are facing a very difficult race tomorrow, because overtaking is almost impossible at the Hungaroring.”