BMW Sauber 2009 Preview: Can They Make That Final Leap?
Now it is time for me and Paul to discuss the big 3 (well according to last season's championship). We debate whether BMW can make that final leap and win the 2009 championship
STATS AND INFORMATION
BMW Sauber F1 Team
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Team Principal: Dr Mario Thiessen
Technical Director: Willy Rampf
Team Base: Hinwil, Switzerland
Chassis: F1.09
Engine: BMW V8
Tyres: Bridgestone
Grand Prix: 53 (as BMW Sauber)
Wins: 1
Podiums: 15
Poles: 1
Fastest Laps: 2
Points: 272
2008 Position: Third (135 points)
Last Five Seasons
2004 – Sixth (34pts)*
2005 – Eighth (20pts)*
2006 – Fifth (36pts)
2007 – Second (101pts)
2008 – Third (135pts)
*As Sauber
First Driver: Robert Kubica
Nationality: Polish
Age: 24
Starts: 40
Wins: 1
Podiums: 8
Poles: 1
Fastest Laps: 0
Points: 120
Best Season: Fourth (2008)
Second Driver: Nick Heidfeld
Nationality: German
Age: 31
Starts: 150
Wins: 0
Podiums: 11
Poles: 1
Fastest Laps: 2
Points: 200
Best Season: Fifth (2007)
DISCUSSION
Paul Murtagh
Now we are at the real business end of the grid, and we move onto BMW Sauber. A big improvement in 2008, including their first-ever win in Canada. Do you consider their 2008 season a success for the team overall?
Daniel Chalmers
I think it was definitely a very good season for BMW. They made another step forward, and they were very consistent. and didn't make many errors. This is something that was lacking from McLaren and Ferrari.
However they tailed off a lot in the second half of the season. Kubica still kept getting the results though. Did BMW start shifting too much focus on 2009 too soon?
Paul Murtagh
I think they did, but to be honest I think they made the right decision. Put yourself in Mario Thiessen's shoes—did you expect so many errors from Ferrari and McLaren in the second half of the season?
I think the answer would be no, so naturally you do your best. They achieved their win. Which was their target, and starting early on their 2009 car could prove to be a very smart move
Daniel Chalmers
I think when you are competing in a championship, as tough as F1 you have to take every opportunity no matter how small it is. Your chance may never come again after all.
However if their hard work and dedication on the 2009 car pays off then they will have no regrets. But if the 2009 car is a complete dog, they may want to kick themselves.
Come the end of 2009 though I do actually think they will look back at it as the correct decision
Paul Murtagh
It was a big gamble to switch focus, but when you think that both McLaren and Ferrari were designing their 2009 cars before their 2008 cars has turned a wheel then it was the only way BMW could challenge this year.
I have no doubt that they will produce a good car for victories—but do you think they have the right drivers?
Daniel Chalmers
Definitely so. Kubica is one of the best drivers on the grid right now. When you look at the whole of 2008 I think Kubica was the most consistent on the grid, and drove better than Massa and Hamilton at times.
He has made big progress in the last 18 months. Some say he was only up there due to Massa and Hamilton's errors. But not making errors is all part of the game. Nick Heidfeld is also a very good driver.
He struggled in qualifying last season but his pace in races, and his race craft are up there with the best of them.
If he could only start at the front more often I think he could win races. He might be a quiet guy but he expresses himself on the track. Qualifying will be the key to his season. If he solves that problem I think he will finally become a race winner in 2009
Paul Murtagh
What do you make of Quick Nick? Although he hasn't won a race yet, he is a very solid driver and definitely knows how to bring the car home. But do you think he will ever make that leap to race winner?
Daniel Chalmers
As I said, I think he definitely has the race pace. When it comes to racing he is very shrewd and intelligent. He does have a high level of aggression at times too when it comes to his race craft.
I think he is a very competitive driver, and one of the most underrated in F1, if not the most underrated. Kubica got the headlines last season but withstanding a couple of races in 2008 Nick did a good job
Paul Murtagh
I thought Nick actually done a better job than Kubica last year and was more consistent. But I'm actually with you—if Nick can improve his qualifying he can win. What do you make of Kubica then?
He is a good driver, but I think there is something about him that doesn't make him world-class. He doesn't seem to have a very good attitude with his team when things don't go his way
Daniel Chalmers
I don't think Kubica's peak is as high as let’s say Hamilton. I think that may be what you are getting at there. But in modern F1 consistency counts for a lot and that’s what Kubica has. I think he can get quicker though.
He is also very calm and composed; his defence of Kimi Raikkonen in Fuji was very impressive.
I think Kubica was frustrated that BMW didn't take his title bid more seriously; I would be the same in his shoes. I think he is like Schumacher in that he wants to push his team to the limit.
I think a top team needs to get that push from their drivers. I would call his attitude with his team more of a positive, than I would a negative.
Paul Murtagh
He was very vocal about the team for helping Heidfeld last season instead of pushing his car—do you not think that shows a negative attitude in terms of team play? After all, BMW want to win the constructors title, aren't prepared to neglect one driver who is struggling to help another
Daniel Chalmers
I think BMW made a mistake by focusing more of their attention on Nick Heidfeld for part of the season if I am honest with you. It did take the team's eye of the ball a bit. I do think that BMW didn't realise how strong Kubica's title challenge was becoming.
You have to try and do your best for both drivers, and I think Kubica got a bit short changed at times. It may not be great team play but in the long run its better than saying nothing I think. BMW will now ensure development doesn’t tail off this season.
Paul Murtagh
Do you think, if BMW produce a good car, that Kubica could win the title?
Daniel Chalmers
I think he is strong enough to win the title, and he ticks many of the boxes that a driver needs to be world champion. He faces very tough opposition though. He is one of a number that can win it.
Paul Murtagh
I do agree that he is capable of winning races, but think that, if BMW's pace is the same as Ferrari and McLaren then he can't beat Hamilton, Massa or Raikkonen.
Daniel Chalmers
I would liken Kubica to Alonso. I don't believe Alonso has the ultimate raw pace of those three drivers you mentions. However he makes up for that in other areas such as being consistent in the race, being a good car developer and not making errors/cracking under pressure.
I Think Alonso and Kubica are similar in many ways. They could be brothers! Alonso has won two titles so no reason why Kubica can't do the same.
Paul Murtagh
There is just something in the back of my head that says Kubica won't be a world champion. I hope he does do well and proves me wrong in the future but at the minute my feeling is that he isn't capable of beating the top three drivers I mentioned.
What is your opinion on Mario Thiessen? Do you think he is the right boss to lead BMW to the title?
Daniel Chalmers
I think Mario Thiessen is a very intelligent boss. He has always been realistic and done things step by step. He hasn't just thrown tons of money at the project, and hoped it would work out.
He has set big targets every year, and since BMW started in 2006 they have achieved each of their yearly objectives. He also took over a team that had very good facilities to start with, and now the team has been able to make better use of them.
They have the best wind tunnel in F1, and one of the world’s most powerful computers.
Paul Murtagh
Do you see him more as a hands-on boss like Martin Whitmarsh or Christian Horner, or do you think he does a lot of background work with the likes of Willi Rampf looking after the race team?
Daniel Chalmers
I think he works in the background more overseeing the whole operation, and making sure things are running smoothly. And like most team bosses he does a lot of the boring paperwork in the office. I would say that he is a mix of both overall.
Paul Murtagh
Yeah I would agree and I think he seems to have a tough but caring management approach. Talking of Willi Rampf is he the man to design a title-winning car for BMW, or do they need to hire a more well-known designer?
He hasn't done a bad job with the team so far.
Daniel Chalmers
I think he is very experienced, and he has always done the best with what he has been given. Since BMW took over Sauber he has been able to use the extra resource that has come from that, and taken the team's cars to the next level. He is as good as anyone in the F1 paddock.
Whether he and the team can take the car up to the final level remains to be seen. It will be quite difficult.
Paul Murtagh
That is the big question: Has he designed a title-winning car for this season?
Daniel Chalmers
The problem for BMW is that they are up against extremely tough opposition. Many teams have produced very good cars and that has been shown in testing. Making that last leap to become race winners is the toughest one of all.
I think the team are capable, but as always they have spent the whole of testing running on heavy fuel, and hiding their true form. The odd glimpse shows that it is a pretty decent car
Paul Murtagh
I think they have a good car, and if we have a season like last then they definitely have a chance. I do think they will win races this year, and will be the strongest at some circuits
Daniel Chalmers
I definitely expect them to win multiple races as opposed to just one race. I also think that they will win races on merit, rather than the luck that was involved in their win last season at Canada.
Whether they can win the championship I am not so sure. They have two consistent drivers plus as a team they don't make many mistakes. Their pit work is very good, and reliability wise they are also very strong. It was these factors that kept them in the title race for so long in 2008.
They have to ensure that they keep up the good form in those areas, and with a bit more pace they will be up there.
Paul Murtagh
I think they will be consistent, and as you say reliable. And if Ferrari or McLaren do make mistakes this season then they will be right there to take advantage
Daniel Chalmers
BMW are unlikely to start the season with KERs. Is this going to put them at a disadvantage as McLaren and Ferrari looks likely to start the season with the system
Paul Murtagh
It's hard to tell. KERS is an unknown source and while it will bring a power advantage reliability could be a question. Like many teams it is a gamble whether to use it or not but if Ferrari or McLaren get it right then BMW will be left behind
Daniel Chalmers
It's very 50/50. BMW could really be in a great position to steal points off McLaren and Ferrari early on if they have reliability issues with their systems
Paul Murtagh
We will find out in Australia who has got it right. Like you say there are teams that are sandbagging in testing and we don't know who has been using KERS in testing, but whoever gets it right will be in the driving seat (no pun intended).
Daniel Chalmers
So where do you think BMW will end up in the championship overall. I am going to go for top two in the championship. They are going to be very strong again. Everything is in place at the team now.
Winning it may be a bit tricky because the opposition is going to be so strong. But a few more wins and second place would be a successful season for the team in my opinion
Paul Murtagh
I think it's difficult to say at the minute. They will definitely be in the top 3 once again, and I would like to go with you and say second place. You can be sure that the team will make the most of any mistakes the other front runners make.
MARKS
Scores (out of 10):
Chassis: 9
Engine: 8.5
Aerodynamics: 8.5
Mechanical grip: 8.5
Drivers: 9
Reliability: 10
THREE KEY QUESTIONS
Can BMW win the championship?
Can Nick Heidfeld win his first race?
Will Kubica become an F1 world champion?
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