Heidfeld manages to score 3 important points in Suzuka

By BMW Sauber F1
October 4 2009

The BMW Sauber F1 Team added some championship points to its tally in the 2009 Japanese Grand Prix: Nick Heidfeld took the chequered flag in sixth at the "Suzuka International Racing Course". Robert Kubica finished ninth, narrowly missing out on the final point.

Following several grid penalties for a number of competitors after qualifying, Nick and Robert found themselves on fourth and ninth respectively on the starting grid for the 15th race of the season. At the start Nick defended his position and was able to keep the KERS-equipped car of Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) behind him. Robert, however, lost one place against McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen. After four laps he also had to let championship leader Jenson Button (Brawn) pass, as his car carried almost 30 kilograms more than Button's.

For many laps the BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers held these positions, before Robert benefitted from a tough fight between Kovalainen and Adrian Sutil (Force India). Sutil spun after the two cars collided, giving Robert the chance to pass Sutil for tenth on lap 14.

One lap later McLaren's Lewis Hamilton kicked off the first round of pit stops, Jarno Trulli (Toyota) followed a lap later. Nick improved to second behind leader Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull). On lap 19 Nick completed his first stop and rejoined in fifth. Following Nico Rosberg's (Williams) stop on lap 23, the German again took over fourth. Robert did a long first stint and gained many places due to the other drivers' pit stops. On lap 27, he pitted from fifth, rejoining the race in 11th -ahead of Kovalainen - before moving up to ninth following other drivers' stops.

Ahead of his second pit stop Nick came under pressure from Räikkönen. However, the Finn pitted in on lap 36 and rejoined ahead of Robert. Nick completed his second and final stop one lap later. Unfortunately it took the crew slightly longer than expected to send the 32-year-old back out again due to a sticking wheel nut. He rejoined between Räikkönen and his team-mate. A few laps later, the two BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers changed positions. Robert was now running in eighth, Nick was ninth. After Robert's second stop on lap 42, the Pole dropped back to tenth. Now the wait was on for the final stops of the competition. And indeed, when Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello came in for their stops, Nick improved to sixth again.

The safety-car was deployed after a spectacular accident for Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso) in the "130R" corner, which saw the field bunched up together again. The Spaniard had been able to get out of his damaged car unaided, but was then taken to the Medical Centre for a check-up.

When the race was re-started on lap 50, Nick had Rosberg ahead of him in sixth, Robert was running behind Button in ninth. Neither of the BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers, however, got the chance to launch a successful attack. Both kept their positions until the chequered flag.

At the front of the field, Vettel drove home to victory in dominant style. Trulli and Hamilton followed in second and third. The fight for the world championship remains wide open for the final rounds of the season in Brazil and Abu Dhabi.