British Grand Prix – Race, Sunday – 06.07.08
Weather: wet track with heavy rain showers. Air: 16-18°C,
Track: 17-21°C Silverstone (GB).
After a flawless drive and numerous good overtaking manoeuvres
Nick Heidfeld took second place for the BMW Sauber F1 Team
in what was a wet and fairly chaotic British Grand Prix. This
was his third runner-up spot of the season, and the team’s
seventh podium. While everything, including the right tyre
choice at each pit stop, paid off for Heidfeld, his team mate
Robert Kubica slid off the slippery track after his second
pit stop.
Nick Heidfeld: 2nd BMW Sauber F1.08-07 /
BMW P86/8 Fastest Lap: 1:32.719 min on lap 21 (2nd fastest
overall) “It was a good race. I am happy with second
place because today it was the best I could achieve. Qualifying
went well and in the race we did everything right. Obviously
it was crucial to make the right tyre decisions. At the first
stop we were wondering if we should stay with the used set
of inters, but luckily we then decided on new tyres. We were
expecting a small shower, but when I drove down Hanger Straight
and saw a black wall in front of me I thought I should expect
more than that! The most difficult moments in the race were
when cars were overtaking me who had been lapped, but were
just on better tyres for the conditions at that time. There
was so much water and I couldn’t see where it was lying.
Once before Abbey I almost spun, but just managed to keep
the car on the track.”
Robert Kubica: DNF BMW Sauber F1.08-03
/ BMW P86/8 Fastest Lap: 1:33.539 min on lap 22 (12th fastest
overall) “I was already aquaplaning for many laps and
unfortunately in a straight line I just lost the car completely
and went off. Here in Silverstone it was a crazy race in difficult
conditions. Everything was running pretty well as I was having
quite a good race and gaining positions. But when it rained
and there was a lot of water on the track I was just struggling.
I couldn’t keep the car in a straight line, was losing
power, the rear wheels were losing contact with the tarmac
and that was it.”
Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director):
“It was a very dramatic race which was dictated by the
weather conditions. In some periods of the race the lap times
varied by as much as ten seconds depending on the tyre choice.
With Nick our strategy worked out perfectly. He performed
very strongly and carried out some spectacular overtaking
manoeuvres. After things have not gone his way recently, I
am very happy for him he climbed from fifth on the grid to
second with a good mixture of intelligent racing and fighting
spirit. For him it is the third second place so far this year,
and for our team the seventh podium. Robert was doing well,
having climbed up to third, but then went off during a rain
shower. Compliments to him as well as it was a strong team
performance under these difficult conditions.”
Willy Rampf (Technical Director): “That
was a tyre lottery, as there was a permanent question over
which ones we should use. The critical period was when the
drivers were fighting very hard to keep the cars on track
after the heavy rain. Nick managed to do this very well. Unfortunately
Robert was aquaplaning and went off. Nick deserved his place
on the podium as he drove a very smart race. Congratulations
on a great performance and compliments to the pit stop crew,
because we made the tyre choice decisions at very short notice."
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