By BMW Sauber F1 Team
January 11 2009

Following a successful Formula One debut in 2006, the BMW Sauber F1 Team was able to make further progress the following season. Read part two of our preview series as we look forward with anticipation to the roll-out of the BMW Sauber F1.09. In only its second season, the BMW Sauber F1 Team exceeded all expectations, emerging as the third-strongest outfit in 2007 from the very first Grand Prix. By the end of the season it had 101 championship points under its belt. Both drivers made it into the top ten qualifying on each of the 17 Grand Prix weekends, and at least one driver finished in the points each Sunday.

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen drew a positive conclusion at the end of a tough season's racing: "We have exceeded our own targets and are proud of it. The fact that on paper we ended up second in the championship, following the penalty imposed on McLaren Mercedes, does not disguise the fact that there were four cars on the grid in 2007 which were markedly faster than ours."

Nick Heidfeld claimed two podium places by finishing second in Canada and third in Hungary. He took points away from 14 out of 17 races to claim fifth in the Drivers' Championship with a total of 61 points - the best final result in his Formula One career so far. Robert Kubica made it into the top eight finishers in eleven Grands Prix and earned 39 points to finish sixth behind his team-mate. After a serious accident in the Canadian Grand Prix, the Pole was forced to sit out the US race. There was generally little to choose between Nick and Robert, and both drivers showed their prowess in head-to-head battles on the race track.

With the BMW Sauber F1.07, the team had built the third-best Formula One car in only the second year of its development phase. By September, third place in the Constructors' Championship was secure, and it was time to turn its focus to development work for 2008.