BMW Sauber kicks off new season at Australia

By BMW Sauber F1 Team
March 14 2008

The 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship is on. In the first free practice session for the Australian Grand Prix, BMW Sauber F1 Team driver Robert Kubica finished seventh. Nick Heidfeld was sidelined by an electronic problem on the out-lap of his second stint and had to make do with 16th position.

Both BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers were prevented from completing the full programme scheduled for the first free practice session of the Australian Grand Prix. Robert had to abort his first stint as the session was temporarily red-flagged due to Renault's Nelson Piquet spinning and being left stranded on the track. In his second stint, however, the Pole set a fast lap time: Thanks to his 1:28.579-minute lap, he claimed seventh place on the time sheets.

Nick experienced a difficult start to the new season. On the fastest lap of his first stint, the German crossed the line in 1:29.561 minutes, thereby taking ninth position. But when he went out for his second stint on the consistently improving track he was stopped by an electronic problem on his out-lap and had to settle for finishing 16th.

"I was stopped by an electronic problem," said Nick, "This put an early end to my first practice session. But we hadn't planned to complete too many laps anyway, so I think we will be able to make up for the lost time in session two."

In the second free practice session, starting at 14:00hrs local time (03:00hrs GMT), the BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers will continue their preparations for the first round of the 2008 Formula One season.