Kubica happy to be back on the podium
In an electric and action packed Brazilian Grand Prix the BMW Sauber F1 Team earned its second trophy this season. Robert Kubica managed to come second in the race after starting from only eighth. Nick Heidfeld improved in his first stint from 18th to tenth, but then retired after his first pit stop because the fuel rig didn’t work and let him run dry.
The eight points scored in the penultimate race of the season has put the BMW Sauber F1 Team ahead of Renault in the Constructors’ World Championship to seventh. The BMW Sauber F1 Team wants to congratulate Jenson Button and Brawn GP for the Championship titles.
Robert Kubica: 2nd
BMW Sauber F1.09-08 / BMW P86/9
Fastest lap 1: 14.155 min on lap 38 (4th fastest overall)
“The basis for today’s result was laid yesterday when we decided to take a gamble and drive the wet qualifying with a low-downforce set-up. This went well in Q1, but was difficult in Q3. Although some people were disappointed with eighth place yesterday, I was quite pleased. Today we had a good and consistent pace. I was surprised at the beginning that it was quite easy to follow Rubens Barrichello and Mark Webber. But I had to reduce the engine revs after about 15 laps because the water temperature was too high, and I had to avoid the tow of the guys in front of me. After my first pit stop I was unlucky because I got stuck behind four cars. At that stage Mark was able to increase the gap. This is a great result in a difficult season, and I really hope that I will see this team on the grid next year.”
Nick Heidfeld: DNF (retired after 21 laps with no fuel)
BMW Sauber F1.09-07 / BMW P86/9
Fastest lap 1:14.988 min on lap 19 (15th fastest overall)
“My start wasn’t perfect but I saw there were very tight fights and decided it was better to stay clear of trouble. Then straight away there were crashes in turn two and at the exit of turn five. I was able to overtake a couple of cars, and among them was Romain Grosjean who didn’t really play fair. I was worried I could lose my front wing then. After I had left him behind me I closed the gap to Sebastian Vettel but could not overtake him. Then I was due for my first pit stop. I wondered how quick the car was and soon I received the call to save fuel and to save more fuel, but it was too late. I ran dry in turn 8. At least it is good that the team has something to be happy about today.”
Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director: “First of all congratulations to Jenson Button and Brawn GP for having won both the Drivers’ and the Constructors’ World Championships. But today we also have some reason to be happy. Robert put in a strong performance without the slightest mistake. He was the only one on track who could keep up with the speed of the front runner over the entire race distance. His second place is a well deserved reward for the intensive work and the efforts of the last weeks. For the entire team it is important to achieve a top result at the end of that difficult season. I want to thank every single team member for that. Unfortunately the fuel rig didn’t work at Nick’s pit stop. Up to then he also drove a strong race. Our second podium finish this season saw us move up one position in the Constructors’ Championship. We want to keep that momentum for the final race in Abu Dhabi.”
Willy Rampf, Head of Engineering: "That was a first class performance from Robert. He was consistently fast and without any mistakes. A great compliment and thank you to him and the entire team. We really earned this second place on the podium in our penultimate race. The risk to set the car up for dry race conditions during the wet qualifying session on Saturday paid off. Unfortunately Nick had a problem with the fuel rig, which did not work and was responsible for his early exit. Congratulations to Jenson Button and BrawnGP for winning two World Championships."
