2 points for Heidfeld as JV has to retire

With Nick Heidfeld finishing seventh in the Canadian Grand Prix, the BMW Sauber F1 Team collected two more championship points. Jacques Villeneuve in 8th was on course for one point, but then with 10 laps to go at his home race he slid into the wall.

Nick Heidfeld "The start was very good again. Unfortunately in the first corner I got stuck in traffic and had to get off the throttle, but in the second corner I was able to overtake two cars. I was then stuck in traffic behind Felipe Massa and Jacques and there was a lot of rubber and dirt off the racing line, which caused problems for a lot of drivers. The second pit stop worked very well and the out lap was good, so I gained a position. At the end of the race I was faster than Jarno Trulli, but after the Safety Car period I had a problem getting the tyres up to temperature again. I think after a disappointing qualifying our race performance was good."

Jacques Villeneuve "Ralf Schumacher was running very slowly for quite a few laps and I think he had a problem with his car. When he decided to let me by it was through a corner. He lifted and just to avoid him I had to go wide where there was old rubber from the tyres - it was like being on an ice rink. We were competitive all day, we fought hard but had a problem in the pitstop, which meant Nick jumped us. This was very a shame as we had been ahead of him the whole race, and then lapping Ralf was very frustrating. This is always a tough race and sometimes it doesn’t work out."

Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director "From 11th and 13th on the grid both our drivers made their way into the points during the race. Both cars ran trouble-free, and we had the right strategy. It was a pity Jacques went off towards the end and lost a well deserved point. But we will be able to draw a positive conclusion from this. We finished in the points again and we maintained fifth in the constructors’ championship."

Willy Rampf, Technical Director Chassis "Being seventh and ninth at the end of the first lap from 11th and 13th on the grid confirmed the good starting performance of both our cars and drivers. Our strategy was to stay out as long as possible and we were able to match the speed of the rest of the group we were racing with. Felipe Massa was in front of us on a one stop strategy, and due to this we lost time to Jarno Trulli. Nick drove a good race and finished seventh. Jacques became a victim of the track conditions. But we strengthened our fifth in the championship."

In Canada the BMW Sauber F1 Team Pit Lane Park, in the centre of Montreal, attracted 41,000 visitiors, which is a new record. Its next races will in Monza and Shanghai.