BMW Sauber F1 Team - Spanish Grand Prix - Race
Weather: dry and sunny, 28-30°C Air, 46-49°C Track
Barcelona (Spain). The Spanish Grand Prix was the fourth
race of the season and for the fourth time the BMW Sauber
F1 Team had a car finish fourth. This time it was Robert Kubica
who contributed the five championship points to the team's
tally. After 46 laps Nick Heidfeld had to park his BMW Sauber
F1.07 in the garage with a suspected gearbox problem.
 Robert
Kubica: 4th
BMW Sauber F1.07-07/BMW P86/7
Fastest Lap: 1.23.129 min on lap 20 (5th fastest overall)
"I am very satisfied because this is my first race this
season without any problems, and you can see the result. Today
everything came together for me. I could fight for top places,
and that is what I did today. I had quite a good, consistent
race, although I had some problems with tyre degradation in
the second stint when I was behind Alonso and Coulthard was
closing the gap, but everything was under control. In the
end, after the second pit stop, I tried to push and make the
gap to Coulthard bigger. Now we have to continue working in
this direction."
Nick Heidfeld: DNF
BMW Sauber F1.07-05/BMW P86/7
Fastest Lap: 1.23.483 min on lap 22 (7th fastest overall)
"In the end it was most likely a gearbox problem that
stopped me, but unfortunately my race was over much earlier
after the problem during my first pit stop. For some reason
the front right wheel was loose, we have to look at it how
this happened. For the first 24 laps until this stop it looked
superb for me. I drove a long first stint and my second stint
would also have been a long one. On top of this Alonso was
not very quick on the harder tyres in his second stint. I
believe I had the chance to finish on the podium today."
Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director):
"We view the result with mixed emotions. Eight cars retiring
was a lot today, and sadly we were among them - most likely
it was a gearbox failure. But as disappointing as this is
for us and for Nick, it was a positive result for Robert.
He scored our fourth fourth place today, drove a very good
race and our team is now established as the third strongest.
At the end of the day the result is pleasing. "
Willy Rampf (Technical Director):
"After a race like this I have mixed feelings. Robert
drove a strong race and deserved fourth place. Nick was also
in a good position before his pit stop. We then had a problem
fitting the front right wheel nut, had to bring Nick in one
lap later and, as a result, his race was ruined. After 46
laps a technical failure forced him to retire. However, on
the positive side we are pleased with five more championship
points."
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