Fuji Quali, BMW Sauber Reactions: the wrong tyre
By BMW Sauber F1 Team
October 11 2008
While Robert Kubica came sixth in qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix, Nick Heidfeld just missed getting into Q2 when he was 16th in Q1. In hindsight, the decision to stay on the harder tyre compound for his second run in Q1 was too big a risk for him.
October 11 2008
While Robert Kubica came sixth in qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix, Nick Heidfeld just missed getting into Q2 when he was 16th in Q1. In hindsight, the decision to stay on the harder tyre compound for his second run in Q1 was too big a risk for him.
Robert Kubica: "Yesterday we were struggling with low grip, so the rain
last night and this morning definitely didn't help us as it washed away
the rubber. The balance of the car was fine, but it was just lacking
grip. I tried everything I could, and this was the best I could manage.
Sixth is not bad under the circumstances."
Nick Heidfeld: "Now we know it was the wrong decision to stay on the harder tyre compound for the second outing in Q1. After my initial run on the first set of those tyres, I knew I could improve on the Prime tyres, so we took the risk and put on another set. I actually did improve, I was about half a second quicker, but still it wasn't enough and I missed Q2 by one tenth of a second. Robert just made it. Of course from so far back on the grid it will be very difficult to do something in the race. But we have seen everything happen in Formula One and I shall never give up."
Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director): "Qualifying didn't go as we hoped it would. The main reason was we estimated incorrectly how the track conditions would improve, and their influence on the tyres in Q1. We sent both drivers out twice on the harder compound, while others were already changing to the softer tyres. The unexpected big difference between both compounds left us in the situation where Robert just made it into Q2 and Nick didn't. In the remaining qualifying sessions Robert put in the performance we were expecting and was 6th."
Willy Rampf (Technical Director): "The most difficult part of today was the first session of qualifying, during which we planned to use the harder of the two tyre compounds. We wanted to have enough sets of the softer one for the remainder of qualifying and for the race. This decision cost Nick a place in Q2. It will be difficult to score points from 16th. Robert's performance was strong and he managed to clinch sixth. This was what we realistically expected."
Nick Heidfeld: "Now we know it was the wrong decision to stay on the harder tyre compound for the second outing in Q1. After my initial run on the first set of those tyres, I knew I could improve on the Prime tyres, so we took the risk and put on another set. I actually did improve, I was about half a second quicker, but still it wasn't enough and I missed Q2 by one tenth of a second. Robert just made it. Of course from so far back on the grid it will be very difficult to do something in the race. But we have seen everything happen in Formula One and I shall never give up."
Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director): "Qualifying didn't go as we hoped it would. The main reason was we estimated incorrectly how the track conditions would improve, and their influence on the tyres in Q1. We sent both drivers out twice on the harder compound, while others were already changing to the softer tyres. The unexpected big difference between both compounds left us in the situation where Robert just made it into Q2 and Nick didn't. In the remaining qualifying sessions Robert put in the performance we were expecting and was 6th."
Willy Rampf (Technical Director): "The most difficult part of today was the first session of qualifying, during which we planned to use the harder of the two tyre compounds. We wanted to have enough sets of the softer one for the remainder of qualifying and for the race. This decision cost Nick a place in Q2. It will be difficult to score points from 16th. Robert's performance was strong and he managed to clinch sixth. This was what we realistically expected."
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| 11 Oct, 2008 12:34 | Report |
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BMW Sauber F1 (IP Logged) Unregistered User |
| 11 Oct, 2008 15:03 | Report |
|
sessions (IP Logged) Registered User |
Date Joined: Apr, 2007 Location: Posts: 3578 |
Re: Fuji Quali, BMW Sauber Reactions: the wrong tyre
You know when a team is this far into the season, the small errors like tyre choice and other things should be somewhat corrected and routine. I'm not going to rag all over the team because Nick himself didn't do a great job. He could have insisted on the softer tyres when he saw his situation, no ?
I hate the feeling of going into the race with my driver not starting in a position the car is capable of being in. His day's work has been made very difficult by errors that could have not happened by everyone concerned.
That's my reaction and I tired of the let downs.
I hope Robert does well and gets some breaks.
Sessions
I hate the feeling of going into the race with my driver not starting in a position the car is capable of being in. His day's work has been made very difficult by errors that could have not happened by everyone concerned.
That's my reaction and I tired of the let downs.
I hope Robert does well and gets some breaks.
Sessions
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| 11 Oct, 2008 17:49 | Report |
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Gemm (IP Logged) Registered User |
Date Joined: Apr, 2007 Location: Posts: 1660 |
Re: Fuji Quali, BMW Sauber Reactions: the wrong tyre
It very clear mistake. Only small margin and we would have both drivers out. Looking at events of the who season we are clearly lagging in correctess of simulation how mych we can get from the tyres. Wrong pressures, wrong choices... it should not happen to top team. Looks like we are having something very wrong in our tyre wear/temperature simulation model that is being used. An area we need to adress at tests so we do not screw up same way with new tyres and new car for 2009. Maybe we just gave up in that 2008 tyres/car aear like we gave up in other areas.
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