Limited running for BMW Sauber drivers due to Japanese rain
Due to rain of varying amounts in both free practice sessions on Friday in Suzuka there wasn't much to learn about the car set-up. From Saturday on the weather conditions are predicted to be dry. In the morning session at least some laps on Intermediate tyres were possible, but in the afternoon the rain didn't allow for anything but full wet tyres. Kubica did six laps on them, Heidfeld ten. Both only went out near the end of the session.
Robert Kubica:
BMW Sauber F1.09-08 / BMW P86/9
1st Free Practice: 15th, 1:42.833 min / 2nd Free Practice: 10th, 1:48.861 min
"It is really good to be back in Suzuka. The track is amazing to drive on. Unfortunately the weather conditions were far from ideal today as we could not run at all in the dry. In the morning we did a couple of laps on full wet and also intermediate tyres just to check the balance of the car. The weather conditions during the afternoon session were even worse than in the morning, as there was really lots of water on the track. Preparing for tomorrow will be a bit of a guessing game, as the weather forecast predicts dry conditions for tomorrow."
Nick Heidfeld:
BMW Sauber F1.09-07 / BMW P86/9
1st Free Practice: 16th, 1:42.977 min / 2nd Free Practice: 17th, 1:50.179 min
"Certainly there wasn't much to learn today. I feel sorry for the many Japanese fans who stayed out in the grandstands despite the nasty weather but didn't get much to watch."
Willy Rampf, Head of Engineering: "This was not a usual Friday. The ongoing rain throughout the whole day forced us to do a minimum programme. With this we only got a set-up for wet conditions. More was not possible today. The next two days should stay dry."
