By BMW Sauber F1
February 26 2009

For the BMW Sauber F1 Team, the tests in Bahrain represented the first clash with its rivals over the course of the 2009 season preparations. According to Nick Heidfeld, it was a truly instructive experience that helped to gather interesting information. "This week, I finally got the opportunity to actually tail another car. In Valencia, all the test runs were solo," Nick revealed following the tests at the "Bahrain International Circuit". "I have got the impression that the new aerodynamics are going to make closing in on the driver ahead easier."

"This certainly should make overtaking a lot easier, too" says the 31-year-old. Should this really be the case, the goal the FIA had hoped to achieve by introducing the new aero regulations would be realised. "I hope that this impression will be confirmed during the course of the coming weeks," adds Nick.

Meanwhile, the German admits to have been surprised by the field's competitiveness. "I had expected that the new regulations would result in bigger gaps between the teams," he says. "On the other hand, we neither know what the other teams have been working on nor how much fuel they had aboard. Nonetheless, the teams seem to be clocking similar lap times right from the start this year."

Heidfeld surprised by small pace gap between teams

Discussion started by BMW Sauber F1 (IP Logged), 26/02/2009 21:22

BMW Sauber F1
26/02/2009 21:22

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German Rocket
27/02/2009 04:58

I hope its not a polite way of saying how uncompetitive we are, having started the development so early last year.

We could be in for a tough season this year.

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Raid Phoenix
27/02/2009 10:36

COme on, don't be that harsh. I sahll remind you that we are still using the same front wing as in November (which was already a very simplistic one), and most of the bodywork. That is due to change in the next tests, and especially Australia.
That will certainly provide a big pace step forward

Racing against the machine!

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Bouncing Bullet
27/02/2009 11:09

Quote:

J-Raid
COme on, don't be that harsh. I sahll remind you that we are still using the same front wing as in November (which was already a very simplistic one), and most of the bodywork. That is due to change in the next tests, and especially Australia.
That will certainly provide a big pace step forward

I would panic after the last testsessions, when no new frontwing was introduced. For now, no worries.

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German Rocket
27/02/2009 17:27

Quote:

Bouncing Bullet

Quote:

J-Raid
COme on, don't be that harsh. I sahll remind you that we are still using the same front wing as in November (which was already a very simplistic one), and most of the bodywork. That is due to change in the next tests, and especially Australia.
That will certainly provide a big pace step forward

I would panic after the last testsessions, when no new frontwing was introduced. For now, no worries.

You can probably leave your worries elsewhere. New parts will be introduced in the coming tests. That said, BMW has got an early start in the development race, but the gap wasn´t as linear as they could have hoped.

In other words, expectations now depend on the upgrades ahead which to me is a tad disappointing at this point and therefore my opinion on Nick´s statement.

As for harsh, I don´t know if that was really intended. For me, it was a bit of a reflection.

Certainly I would like JRaid to be absolutely right, and me absolutely wrong.

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barteks
27/02/2009 19:06

If they don't bring any major updates in Jerez then I will begin to worry about the new car...

2008 Prediction Champion

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f1man
27/02/2009 20:05

Listen guys your only problem this year will be the bull, don't get too close to the bull , it may bite :-0

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chicagoGP
28/02/2009 01:03

its not the bull we need to watch out for its the bear the bear market that is we shall see who is left by the end of the year!!!!!!!!!!!

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sessions
28/02/2009 01:30

Enough of all this Bull. Let's wait and see !

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Bouncing Bullet
28/02/2009 08:37

Quote:

sessions
Enough of all this Bull. Let's wait and see !

Sessions, no bullying...

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