BMW Sauber F1
2008 Review Race by Race: Australia GP
By BMW Sauber F1 Team
November 25 2008
Three safety-car deployments, 15 retirements, bad luck for Robert Kubica and a splendid result for Nick Heidfeld. In a turbulent start to the 2008 season, the BMW Sauber F1.08 celebrated its racing debut in superb style. Part one of our race-by-race season review...
Regardless of where it takes place, the start of the Formula One season
is a particularly thrilling period for all teams, for it is only then
that they are able to gauge exactly how competitive their news cars
really are despite all the pre-season testing. The BMW Sauber F1.08
came through its baptism of fire in the Australian Grand Prix with
distinction - in the process enabling Nick Heidfeld to post a career
best start to Formula One season.
The BMW Sauber F1 Team's drivers certainly kicked off in fine style:
Throughout the practice sessions and qualifying they set amongst the
fastest times. In qualifying Robert set the second-fastest time to
start from his highest ever Formula One grid position so far, whilst
Nick annexed the fifth fastest qualifying time.
Immediately after the start of the Australian Grand Prix it became
abundantly clear that the spectators were in for a thrilling race: Two
accidents in the first corners of the "Albert Park Circuit" brought out
the Safety Car for the first time. The BMW Sauber F1 Team's drivers,
though, were not involved. Robert und Nick had started the race on hard
tyre compounds and kept their positions through the start.
Robert's first pit stop, on lap 16, went off without a hitch. When Nick
pulled up in front his team's garage five laps later, his crew directly
assisted him in making up a place: having pulled into the pitlane
directly behind Nico Rosberg's Williams, Nick was able to exit the pits
ahead of his German compatriot as result of the BMW Sauber F1 Team's
flawless pit work. "Our crew was absolutely fantastic," he praised them
after the race. Shortly after this stop the safety-car was deployed for
the second time: Felipe Massa (Ferrari) and David Coulthard (Red Bull)
had collided. Robert ducked in for a second stop, thereafter returning
to the track in 12th place; Nick lay fourth.
There was even more turbulence after the restart: With Massa retiring
and a slide into the gravel traps by Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari), Nick's
position improved to third, whilst Robert held seventh. A podium place
for the BMW Sauber F1 Team was thus within grasp. On lap 44 the pit
crew once again demonstrated their class: Nick's second stop took just
22.371 seconds from pit lane entry to exit - the quickest turn-around
by any driver in the race.
After Timo Glock (Toyota) slid off the track and was spectacularly
launched into the air before landing unscathed, the safety-car made its
appearance for the third time. At the restart Nick lay in second place
after a second stop for tyres by Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren). However,
Robert was hit by bad luck as the safety-car peeled into the pit lane:
Kazuki Nakajima (Williams) drove into the back of the Pole's car, and
Robert was forced into the pits and retirement.
Nick reeled off the final laps of the season's opening race in
uneventful style to defend his second place in the BMW Sauber F1.08. In
a race which saw just seven cars cross the line, his was the second car
to see the black-white chequered flag at the "Albert Park Circuit".
Thus he celebrated not only his best-ever start to a season - but also
his second place in the Drivers' Championship.
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Would be good to post our opinion or memories from each of them.
So, about the Aussie race, well if it hadn't been for Nakajima it would have been an excellent start. Very exciting race, and was good to see Nick on podium
Racing against the machine!
I checked the results on the net. Seeing Kubica's P2 turned into DNF tasted worse than the inside of my mouth. Then I noticed that Nick got P2. I opened first bottle of beer for breakfast. I woke up rest of the company, made them breakfast, called them taxis, drunk another beer, watched the re-run of the race on RTL... and got back to bed.
That's sums up my F1*** ING Australia Grand Prix memories.
For the rest of the season I was pretty much good boy... except certain race in North America. But this is the story or another episode.
Cheers
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:11:25:19:30:04 by Gemm.
So your telling us Ms.W aside caused you a DNF and you didn't enjoy Saturday Night Fever. Come on Gemm everyone enjoys Saturday Night Fever ! Those memories will sustain you into a ripe old age when you will stand in front of the toilet waiting so long for the urge to strike that you'll have forgotten why you are standing there if it wasn't for what was in your hand. Live the moments. Australia may have to be turned into a tradition. Call your pal and see if he remembers the number on the back of that discarded beer coaster and dance that disco tune again. Wear those platform shoes (for protection) all in the name of F1 fun.
sessions
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2008:11:28:18:51:38 by sessions.
Racing against the machine!
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