BMW Sauber F1 Team - Bahrain GP - Qualifying
Bahrain Grand Prix – Qualifying, Saturday – 11.03.06
Weather: Dry, 22°C Air, 30-33°C Track
Sakhir (BHR). In a thrilling qualifying session for the 2006
FIA Formula One World Championship opener the two BMW Sauber
F1 Team drivers, Nick Heidfeld and Jacques Villeneuve, qualified
10th and 11th respectively for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Nick Heidfeld:
BMW Sauber F1.06-04
Qualifying: 10 th, 1:33.926s – (3rd Practice: 13th,
1:34.094s)
To start with, it was great that I was able to make it to
the final part of qualifying. It was quite tricky to find
the right set-up this afternoon in order to get the best out
of the tyres over just one lap. But that worked well for us
in the first 15 minute session, better still in the second
and even better in the final part. The first two sectors of
my lap were very good, but then I pushed a little too hard
in Turn 13. I braked late and as I came off the racing line
I lost a lot of time. Otherwise I could have qualified as
high as fifth, so naturally I am a little disappointed.
Jacques Villeneuve:
BMW Sauber F1.06-03
Qualifying: 11th, 1:32.456s – (3 rd Practice: 6th, 1:32.913s)
Our initial strategy for the second session was to do only
one run at the end when the track should have been at its
best, but then we changed to one run at the beginning and
one at the end. Unfortunately I left the pits too late and
could only do one lap before the finish, and today the time
always came on the second lap.
Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director):
This is the best qualifying format that we have ever had.
First, two knockout rounds, and then a final session in which
everything is at stake all over again. That was really great,
an hour of intense action. This is exactly what was missing
in recent years. It was also a good start for our new team.
We had no technical problems whatsoever, and now it will be
crucial for us to get the best out of our grid positions.
Willy Rampf (Technical Director Chassis):
The new ‘knockout’ qualifying format is pretty
exciting! The timing of each run is the biggest challenge.
Jacques got stuck in traffic and then just dropped out of
the top 10 at the end of the second session. And Nick lost
some time and therefore grid positions in the final sector
of his last lap. But overall we are happy with our new car
and its performance under the new qualifying regulations.
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