Heidfeld 11th, Kubica DNF due to brake problems in Monaco

By BMW Sauber F1
May 24 2009

As was suspected following the qualifying session, the 2009 Monaco GP proved to be another difficult race for the BMW Sauber F1 Team. In the race, which was won by Brawn GP's Jenson Button, Nick Heidfeld finished 11th while Robert Kubica retired.

Prior to the start, Nick and Robert both gained a position on the grid, moving up to 16th and 17th, as McLaren's Lewis Hamilton received a five-position grid penalty for a gearbox change.

This, however, was the day's only good news for Robert. Due to a problem, the Pole had to pit for the first time as early as the end of lap two and on lap 30 his race came to an early end. He had previously complained about serious brake problems, pitted for a second time - and retired.

Nick however, was a little more lucky than his team-mate. The German survived an early close encounter with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton unharmed, passed Force India's Adrian Sutil for 15th and on lap 11 gained another two positions when Toro Rosso's Sébastien Buemi collided with Renault's Nelson Piquet. Piquet had to retire with a broken rear wing and Buemi came in for a precautionary pit stop, thereby allowing Nick to move up to 13th.

From that point in time, Nick, who was on a one-stop strategy, drove a truly mature race, avoiding any incidents and consistently setting solid lap times. With his fine performance he closed in on several of the two-stoppers and when everyone had made their final stops he held 11th.

In the closing stages of the race, his super soft tyres were clearly worn out and he was pressurised by Toyota's Jarno Trulli. Nick tried to fend off the Italian but on lap 71 he lost it in the chicane after the tunnel and Trulli used this chance to pass him. Subsequently, Nick succeeded in keeping Hamilton at bay crossing the finish line in 12th position. At the end of the day, Nick delivered a fine race performance but the BMW Sauber F1 Team had to leave Monaco empty-handed, nevertheless.

Now, everyone in the Munich and Hinwil based squad will hope that the second aero package, scheduled for the Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul in a fortnight, will represent a major step forward and help the team battle its way back up the field and re-establish itself as one of the front-runners on the Formula One grid.