Malaysia GP: The situation prior to the race

By BMW Sauber F1 Team
March 22 2008

The BMW Sauber F1 Team is in good shape for delivering in fine style again on Sunday. However, in the qualifying session at Sepang, an even better result was possible. Check this section to know all you need to be prepared for the Malaysian GP race...

- Robert Kubica qualified sixth * at the "Sepang International Circuit". On last year's Malaysian GP grid, the Pole had been seventh.

- Nick Heidfeld wasn't happy with his qualifying achievement . "Currently, I'm very disappointed," he said after the session. The reason: after having been hampered by several opponents on his final flying lap, the German had to make do with seventh position* on the grid.

- In the race on Sunday, starting at 15:00hrs local time (07:00hrs GMT), Robert will share the third row of the grid with Toyota's Jarno Trulli. Nick will start the race from row four, alongside Mark Webber (Red Bull).*

- Consequently, Nick's best Malaysian GP grid position to date remains the fifth position he secured in last year's qualifying on the 5.543-kilometre circuit.

- In the team-internal qualifying battle of the two BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers, Robert now holds a 2:0 lead over Nick.

- In this Saturday's qualifying session, both BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers managed to advance to the crucial top-ten shootout for the 20th consecutive time.

- In his maiden Malaysian Grand Prix, the 2007 event, Robert had to make do with a disappointing 18th place. He truly experienced a race to forget. It started with gearbox problems and a puncture, and later in the race his radio contact to the pits also broke down.

- Nick has contested eight Malaysian GPs to date, and finished the race four times. In 2005, he secured a podium finish by coming home third.

- With our Race Updates', we will keep you informed about what is going on in Malaysia. To get the updates, please click "GP Malaysia" in the "Season 2008" section of this website.

*After the penalty for both Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen, Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld will start from 4th and 5th position respectively.

Further facts:

- Rain or no rain? Showers had been forecast for the qualifying session  but the entire session was held in dry conditions. Rain is also expected to hamper tomorrow's race and this would add to the excitement. But even without rain, there were plenty of topics for conversation on Saturday at Sepang.

- Thrilling Malaysian GP guaranteed: Following a thrilling qualifying session, Formula One enthusiasts in Malaysia can look forward to an equally thrilling Grand Prix. Only in the race on Sunday, will we find out which driver is going to contest the first stint of the race on what fuel load. Nevertheless, after qualifying, Nick Heidfeld complained about having been hampered on his crucial final flying lap. "I definitely lost some time because of several cars driving on the racing line on their in-lap," he said. "Otherwise, third position on the grid would have been possible for me."

- Impressive mileage: In the three practice sessions at Sepang, the BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers completed a considerable number of laps. In all, Nick and Robert lapped the 5.543-kilometre "Sepang International Circuit" 151 times, representing a total mileage of about 837 kilometres.

- Safety-car period regulations disputed: During the course of the Malaysian GP weekend, the regulations regarding the safety-car - which had to go out three times in Australia - were the topic of numerous discussions. There has been much criticism of the fact that the pit-lane is only opened when the entire field has been 'neutralised'. Due to a lack of fuel, Honda's Rubens Barrichello had to pit earlier, and consequently received a ten-second penalty for coming in early, and was belatedly disqualified for having ignored the red light at the pit-lane exit when rejoining the race. BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen admits: "Well, as far as I know, nobody's really happy with the situation as it is now. There are discussions between (FIA Race Director) Charlie Whiting and the team managers and I think they will have further discussions. Let's see what the outcome is."

- Art connoisseur Heidfeld: It's a well-known fact that Nick Heidfeld is interested in art. In Malaysia, the German revealed further details. "I'm mainly interested in modern art, in freaky paintings," he said. "My girlfriend Patricia is very fond of impressionism. I can imagine buying some impressionistic pictures."

- Forgotten: Robert remains philosophical with regards Williams driver Kazuki Nakajima, who forced him into retirement in the Australian GP. "That's racing," said the Pole at Sepang. "Actually, things like that shouldn't happen behind the safety-car but he just made a mistake. I think he missed his braking point. We were driving very slowly - and he hit me."

- Attentive observer: Christian Klien, the official BMW Sauber F1 Team test and reserve driver, analyses the Malaysian circuit as follows: "It's a very challenging venue for the drivers as it's extremely hot. At the same time, it is also a very demanding track for the tyres. It's very important to find a good balance for the car here. Basically, the circuit is easy to drive. Furthermore, it has been given a new layer of tarmac. But obviously, I don't know how it feels to drive on the newly asphalted track."