Both BMW drivers qualify in top 10

The BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers were both much happier with the performance of their cars in qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix. Timing was crucial as the rain was threatening, but it just held off and Nick Heidfeld will start the race from fifth on the grid while Robert Kubica from seventh.

Nick Heidfeld: BMW Sauber F1.07-05/BMW P86/7 Qualifying: 5th, 1.36,543 min (3rd Practice: 7th, 1.36,160 min) “I am very happy starting from fifth on the grid. It was the best I could achieve today as the balance of my car is better, but still not ideal, so under the circumstances the result is fine. Timing was quite difficult in the session when the sky became darker and darker, and on my last outing in two of the corners the track was already slightly wet.”

Robert Kubica: BMW Sauber F1.07-04/BMW P86/7 Qualifying: 7th, 1.36.896 min (3rd Practice: 4th, 1.35.385min) “The car is as competitive as it was in Melbourne and I could have been in the top five, but we made a mistake. In the end we could have had a better result, and that is what counts. After free practice I was happy with the balance, as I was after the last test here. The car improved because the condition of the track improved and, though we had a few problems yesterday, we did not have these in qualifying.“

Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director “After problems with the set-up yesterday, we are happy with today’s free practice and qualifying. In Q3 we started sweating when we saw the first rain drops. Along with the rest of the teams, we changed to new tyres earlier than planned. Due to lack of time, Robert was not able to do another fast lap, otherwise we would have seen him with a better grid position.”

Willy Rampf, Technical Director “Overall we are happy with the performance of the cars in today’s qualifying, but certainly we are not enthusiastic. For Robert we were too late for his last outing, and if he had had the chance he would have improved at least one position. Nick asked for the harder tyres for his last outing and improved his lap time. In general the cars have a better balance than on Friday. It was exciting to have to be ready to deal with the risk of rain, and in such a situation we have to be spontaneous and ready to change our schedule.”