A successful debut season for BMW Sauber

The BMW Sauber Formula One Team can look back on the 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship season with satisfaction. Starting from eight position, the Munich and Hinwill based squad succeeded in moving up to the fifth position in the Constructors' Championship. Further facts from a successful season...

* With a one-point lead over Toyota, the BMW Sauber F1 Team secured fifth position in the Constructors' Championship behind Renault, Ferrari, McLaren and Honda. Last year, the Sauber team finished 8th. Nick Heidfeld, Robert Kubica and Jacques Villeneuve scored a total of 36 World Championship points.

* Nick was the team's most successful driver in the 2006 season. He accumulated a total of 23 points, thus securing ninth position in the Drivers' Championship.

* In the six races he contested, Robert won six points to finish 16th in the World Championship. With seven points to his tally, Jacques Villeneuve secured 14th position.

* The Canadian was also the driver to score the team's very first World Championship points, finishing seventh in the Malaysian Grand Prix -only the second race contested by the BMW Sauber F1 Team.

* In the following race, the BMW Sauber F1 Team secured more points than in any other race this season. In the Australian Grand Prix, Nick finished 4th, with Jacques taking 6th place. Together, the pairing scored eight points at Melbourne.

* In the wet Hungarian Grand Prix, Nick made for a major surprise. In the 13th round of the season, the 29-year old finished third, thus clinching the team's maiden podium finish. At the same time, the Hungaroring also was the venue of Robert's debut as GP driver.

* Istanbul, host of the Turkish Grand Prix, was the venue of Sebastian Vettel's debut as BMW Sauber F1 Team Friday tester. In ten free practice sessions contested, the 19-year-old set three fastest lap times.

* In his only third Grand Prix, Robert caused a true stir by sensationally making it to the podium. The Pole finished third in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, sharing the podium with Michael Schumacher, who announced his retirement minutes later.

* In twelve of the 18 races of the 2006 season, the BMW Sauber F1 Team scored World Championship points.

* Twelve times, at least one of the BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers succeeded in making it to the top-ten qualifying leg. Both drivers achieved this feat seven times.

* Monza was the venue of the BMW Sauber F1 Team's best qualifying result. Nick was third on the grid for the 15th round of the season, while Robert started from sixth grid position.