BMW Sauber F1 Team - Monaco Grand Prix - Race,
Weather: dry and sunny, 24-27°C Air, 33-35°C Track
In an exciting Monaco Grand Prix, the fifth round of the
world championship, the BMW Sauber F1 Team scored points for
the fifth consecutive time and strengthened its third place
in the constructors' championship. Robert Kubica finished
fifth and Nick Heidfeld sixth.
Robert Kubica: 5th
BMW Sauber F1.07-07/BMW P86/7
Fastest Lap: 1.16.006 min on lap 39 (3rd fastest overall)
"Unfortunately I don't think our one stop strategy was
the right one for this year's Monaco. We expected Safety Car
periods and these did not happen. Looking back now, I think
we could have finished better, but I am happy to have scored
some important points again. I had a small problem with the
brakes soon after the start of the race and had to pump them
all the time which did not make me feel confident. Then I
was stuck in traffic and at the end I had a sensor problem
which meant I was without traction control for quite a long
time."
Nick Heidfeld: 6th
BMW Sauber F1.07-05/BMW P86/7
Fastest Lap: 1.17.041 min on lap 30 (12th fastest overall)
"Because of my one stop strategy the most important thing
for me to do was overtake Mark Webber at the start, and this
worked out. I was also able to get passed Nico Rosberg, although
our cars touched in the first corner but luckily mine wasn't
damaged. In the early laps of my first stint I had some problems
with the soft tyres, but later they became better and better.
On my second stint I lost quite a few seconds when I had to
let the two McLarens by. It was enough to let Robert get just
in front of me after his pit stop. But altogether I am quite
happy with the result."
Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director):
"McLaren Mercedes has achieved an impressive one-two
here - congratulations to the team. Monaco was again an exciting
race, although there wasn't much overtaking. The choice of
strategy was crucial here - one or two stops was the question.
Some had clear laps for most of the race while others got
stuck in traffic and lost time. We are pleased we were reliable
again, bringing both cars home and scoring seven important
points."
Willy Rampf (Technical Director):
"We can be pleased with this result as we have seven
championship points after a race which was thrilling for us.
Nick had quite a heavy fuel load, and in the early stages
of the race he lost too much time with the softer of the two
tyre compounds. Only after the tyres had come back was he
able to achieve the lap times we had expected. Robert started
the race with even more fuel on board, but as early in the
race he got stuck in traffic he couldn't exploit the car's
potential. When he had a clear track his lap times dropped
immediately."
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