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   BMW Sauber F1 Team - Italian Grand Prix - Preview

04.09.2009
Press Release

11th – 13th September 2009
13th of 17 World Championship races
Munich/Hinwil, 4th September 2009. The BMW Sauber F1 Team is sensing an opportunity as the drivers and engineers prepare for the Italian Grand Prix. The revitalising effect of the team’s strong performance last time out at Spa-Francorchamps has boosted spirits ahead of the visit to Monza’s legendary high-speed circuit. The 13th race of the season – taking place on 13th September – represents a farewell to Europe, both for Formula One as a whole for 2009 and for the BMW Sauber F1 Team on a permanent basis in its current guise. After the Italian GP, the teams will travel to Asia and South America for the four remaining races on this year’s calendar. At the same time, work continues on securing the future of the Hinwil factory in Switzerland.

Robert Kubica:
“The Monza track is a very special one. As it is the quickest track on the calendar, the car’s downforce level will be reduced even more compared to Spa-Francorchamps. Traditionally our cars are quite quick on low downforce tracks and our performance was already good at Spa. I have a good feeling for Monza and I am looking forward to the race as I expect a lot of Italian fans to show up there.”

Nick Heidfeld: 
“The speed we had at Spa-Francorchamps with lower downforce gives us hope that we could do even better at Monza with even less downforce. However, the cars equipped with KERS will probably have a considerable advantage over the long straights of this high-speed circuit. I really like the atmosphere at the Italian Grand Prix. As well as all the Italians at the track, a lot of fans will also come over from Switzerland to support us.”

Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director: 
“As the ultimate power circuit, Monza has always provided BMW with a very special challenge. One of our highlights at the track came during the era of the V10 engines in qualifying for the 2002 race, when a BMW engine broke through the 19,000 rpm barrier and the car set a new record average speed for F1 of 259.827 km/h on its way to pole position. Now, even more than before, the main priority lies in maximising reliability, as each driver is only permitted eight engines for the duration of the season. This is an issue at Monza in particular, even though the maximum engine speed is now limited to 18,000 rpm. This circuit commands the respect of drivers and engineers alike in many different ways.

We are aiming to build on our good results from Spa-Francorchamps – where we were competing at the front of the field for the first time in a long while – in the final race in Europe. Our strong performance in Belgium gave the whole team an extra shot of motivation for the next races, and we are confident that we are getting back into the fast lane once again.”

Willy Rampf, Head of Engineering:
“The result at Spa-Francorchamps represented confirmation for the whole team. It was important for all involved to see that our huge efforts over the preceding weeks had paid off. Of course we want to take this upturn in form with us to Italy and post another strong result at Monza.

“This is the last genuine high-speed track left on the calendar. The four long straights mean that keeping the drag level low is crucial, so we run the cars with less downforce here than anywhere else during the season. This involves using a modified front wing and a new and extremely small rear wing. An additional challenge for the drivers and engineers is to give the cars a mechanical set-up which ensures good braking stability and allows the kerbs to be taken aggressively, as this is absolutely essential in setting a fast lap time here. I’m very much looking forward to the race, as there’s always a very special atmosphere at Monza.”

Facts and figures:
Circuit/Date: Autodromo Nazionale Monza / 13th September 2009
Start time (local/UTC): 14.00 hrs / 12.00 hrs    
Lap/Race distance: 5.793 km / 306.720 km (53 laps)
Corners: 7 right-hand and 4 left-hand corners

Winner 2008: Sebastian Vettel, Scuderia Toro Rosso, 1 hr 26:47.494 min
Pole position 2008: Sebastian Vettel, Scuderia Toro Rosso, 1:37.555 min
Fastest lap 2008: Kimi Räikkönen, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, 1:28.047 min

Data 2008
Full-throttle percentage: 70%
Top speed: 351 km/h
Longest section at full throttle: 16 sec / 1,320 m
Gear changes per lap: 46
Tyre wear: low
Brake wear: high
Downforce level: very low

History and background.
Since the official launch of Formula One in 1950, the circuit spread out behind the walls of Monza’s Royal Park has hosted more GPs than any other venue. Indeed, 2009 marks the 59th visit of F1 to Monza. Just one Italian Grand Prix has been held at another location, namely at Imola in 1980.

The history of this race track outside Milan dates back to 1922, since when it has undergone repeated modifications with the aim of reining in its speed. 1935 saw the first chicanes set up, and in 1950 two banked curves were built, which have since crumbled. At one stage the circuit was ten kilometres long; it hosted its last F1 event in this form in 1961. This was the race in which Count Berghe von Trips suffered a fatal accident, which also killed 15 spectators.

Author	Message
Melvyn Pettit Forum Member Joined: 18 Apr 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1066	Topic: BMW Sauber F1 Team - 09 Italian Grand Prix Posted: 04 Sep 2009 at 6:33pm
	BMW Sauber F1 Team - Italian Grand Prix - Preview 04.09.2009 Press Release 11th – 13th September 2009 13th of 17 World Championship races Munich/Hinwil, 4th September 2009. The BMW Sauber F1 Team is sensing an opportunity as the drivers and engineers prepare for the Italian Grand Prix. The revitalising effect of the team’s strong performance last time out at Spa-Francorchamps has boosted spirits ahead of the visit to Monza’s legendary high-speed circuit. The 13th race of the season – taking place on 13th September – represents a farewell to Europe, both for Formula One as a whole for 2009 and for the BMW Sauber F1 Team on a permanent basis in its current guise. After the Italian GP, the teams will travel to Asia and South America for the four remaining races on this year’s calendar. At the same time, work continues on securing the future of the Hinwil factory in Switzerland. Robert Kubica: “The Monza track is a very special one. As it is the quickest track on the calendar, the car’s downforce level will be reduced even more compared to Spa-Francorchamps. Traditionally our cars are quite quick on low downforce tracks and our performance was already good at Spa. I have a good feeling for Monza and I am looking forward to the race as I expect a lot of Italian fans to show up there.” Nick Heidfeld: “The speed we had at Spa-Francorchamps with lower downforce gives us hope that we could do even better at Monza with even less downforce. However, the cars equipped with KERS will probably have a considerable advantage over the long straights of this high-speed circuit. I really like the atmosphere at the Italian Grand Prix. As well as all the Italians at the track, a lot of fans will also come over from Switzerland to support us.” Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director: “As the ultimate power circuit, Monza has always provided BMW with a very special challenge. One of our highlights at the track came during the era of the V10 engines in qualifying for the 2002 race, when a BMW engine broke through the 19,000 rpm barrier and the car set a new record average speed for F1 of 259.827 km/h on its way to pole position. Now, even more than before, the main priority lies in maximising reliability, as each driver is only permitted eight engines for the duration of the season. This is an issue at Monza in particular, even though the maximum engine speed is now limited to 18,000 rpm. This circuit commands the respect of drivers and engineers alike in many different ways. We are aiming to build on our good results from Spa-Francorchamps – where we were competing at the front of the field for the first time in a long while – in the final race in Europe. Our strong performance in Belgium gave the whole team an extra shot of motivation for the next races, and we are confident that we are getting back into the fast lane once again.” Willy Rampf, Head of Engineering: “The result at Spa-Francorchamps represented confirmation for the whole team. It was important for all involved to see that our huge efforts over the preceding weeks had paid off. Of course we want to take this upturn in form with us to Italy and post another strong result at Monza. “This is the last genuine high-speed track left on the calendar. The four long straights mean that keeping the drag level low is crucial, so we run the cars with less downforce here than anywhere else during the season. This involves using a modified front wing and a new and extremely small rear wing. An additional challenge for the drivers and engineers is to give the cars a mechanical set-up which ensures good braking stability and allows the kerbs to be taken aggressively, as this is absolutely essential in setting a fast lap time here. I’m very much looking forward to the race, as there’s always a very special atmosphere at Monza.” Facts and figures: Circuit/Date: Autodromo Nazionale Monza / 13th September 2009 Start time (local/UTC): 14.00 hrs / 12.00 hrs Lap/Race distance: 5.793 km / 306.720 km (53 laps) Corners: 7 right-hand and 4 left-hand corners Winner 2008: Sebastian Vettel, Scuderia Toro Rosso, 1 hr 26:47.494 min Pole position 2008: Sebastian Vettel, Scuderia Toro Rosso, 1:37.555 min Fastest lap 2008: Kimi Räikkönen, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, 1:28.047 min Data 2008 Full-throttle percentage: 70% Top speed: 351 km/h Longest section at full throttle: 16 sec / 1,320 m Gear changes per lap: 46 Tyre wear: low Brake wear: high Downforce level: very low History and background. Since the official launch of Formula One in 1950, the circuit spread out behind the walls of Monza’s Royal Park has hosted more GPs than any other venue. Indeed, 2009 marks the 59th visit of F1 to Monza. Just one Italian Grand Prix has been held at another location, namely at Imola in 1980. The history of this race track outside Milan dates back to 1922, since when it has undergone repeated modifications with the aim of reining in its speed. 1935 saw the first chicanes set up, and in 1950 two banked curves were built, which have since crumbled. At one stage the circuit was ten kilometres long; it hosted its last F1 event in this form in 1961. This was the race in which Count Berghe von Trips suffered a fatal accident, which also killed 15 spectators.
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Melvyn Pettit Forum Member Joined: 18 Apr 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1066	Posted: 13 Sep 2009 at 10:53pm
	BMW Sauber F1 Team - Italian Grand Prix - Qualifying 12.09.2009 Press Release Weather: sunny, dry, 24-27°C Air, 31-40°C Track Monza (IT). After promising free practice sessions, the BMW Sauber F1 Team was disappointed in Qualifying: While both Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld consistently improved their lap times, both cars suddenly stopped due to engine failures. Both engines were new. Kubica has qualified 13th for tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix in Monza, while Heidfeld, who’s engine failed first, was 15th in the session. Robert Kubica: BMW Sauber F1.09-08 / BMW P86/9 Qualifying 13th, 1:23.866 min in Q2 (3rd Free Practice: 10th, 1:23.996 min) “This is a very difficult situation for me, not only for this Grand Prix but also for the next races. I do not have many engines left. It is also unfortunate for Nick who was very competitive here. Although I was struggling a bit I was quite confident of making it into the final qualifying session. I was struggling a little bit with the car in the first qualifying session, but it was better right from the start of the second one. I managed to do quite a good lap, but unfortunately had traffic for the next two laps. The engine problem makes my position for the final races of the season very complicated.” Nick Heidfeld: BMW Sauber F1.09-07 / BMW P86/9 Qualifying 15th, 1:24.275 min in Q2 (3rd Free Practice: 3rd, 1:23.490 min) “It is a real shame having an engine problem after it all looked so promising. We had a good qualifying in Spa where I was third, and in this morning’s free practice I was third again. I was certainly expecting a good qualifying result after the car was quite quick here. Reliability problems are very exceptional for our team and, of course, it is very strange that Robert and I both had problems with two new engines within a few minutes. We will find out what the reason was. Qualifying 15th will make it difficult, but I will not give up and make the most of it.” Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director): “Both drivers were stopped by engine failures in the second part of qualifying. As far as we can see from the data they both had the same problem. The two engines were new, therefore the reason cannot be too much mileage or too high stress. A thorough analysis will only be possible once we have dismantled the engines. Of course, this has a negative effect on our race prospects. We expected good grid positions on this track. Obviously the failures also influence our engine planning for the remaining races of the season.” Willy Rampf (Head of Engineering): “Our lap times in qualifying were as we expected them to be after this morning’s free practice. Our goal was to get both cars into the top ten qualifying, which was realistic. However, the two engine failures upset our plans. From 13th and 15th in qualifying it will be difficult to score points tomorrow.”
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Melvyn Pettit Forum Member Joined: 18 Apr 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1066	Posted: 13 Sep 2009 at 10:55pm
	BMW Sauber F1 Team - Italian Grand Prix - Race 13.09.2009 Press Release Weather: sunny and dry, 27°C Air, 38-39°C Track Monza (IT). While Nick Heidfeld came seventh after starting 15th in the Italian Grand Prix, his team mate, Robert Kubica, retired after 15 laps due to a gear box oil leak. After a disappointing qualifying the BMW Sauber F1 Team scored two more championship points. Nick Heidfeld: 7th BMW Sauber F1.09-07 / BMW P86/9 Fastest lap 1:25.488 min on lap 30 (9th fastest overall) “I’m totally happy, as for me it was a great race. Coming seventh may not sound fantastic, but from 15th on the grid that really was the best I could do today. The start itself wasn’t good at all, I almost lost positions. But then in the first corner I managed to overtake one car on the outside and then in the chicane I went to the inside to overtake Jarno Trulli. On lap three I overtook Giancarlo Fisichella, which I thought would be impossible because he has KERS on his car. Then when I was behind Sebastian Vettel I started to save fuel. After our pit stops he was behind me, and I was eighth before Lewis Hamilton crashed on the last lap and I benefited by scoring one more point.” Robert Kubica: Retired after lap 15 BMW Sauber F1.09-08 / BMW P86/9 Fastest lap 1:27.819 min on lap 12 (18th fastest overall) “I made a very good start and was in quite a good position before the first braking point. I was on the left hand side of Mark Webber. I guess he did not see me at all. Mark pushed me on the grass while I was on the brakes. Although I managed to come back on the track, we touched in corner one. In Roggia he was on the outside and slightly in front of me. When we were going into the first apex unfortunately again I was not able to avoid him. I ended up with a damaged front wing, but am not sure how this happened as it could have been with my fight with Mark or I could have hit a kerb. However, I was able to continue and managed to overtake Sebastian Vettel, despite having the front wing problem. For safety reasons we had to change the wing a couple of laps later. Finally an oil leak forced me to retire.” Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director): “It was a hard race which had a dramatic end because of Lewis Hamilton’s crash. After having bad luck in qualifying, Nick achieved the best possible race result when he managed to climb from 15th on the grid to seventh. In the beginning Robert was even two places ahead of Nick, but then damaged his front wing and was called in for a stop by the race director. Shortly after that he had to retire due to an oil leak in the gearbox. For us the engine situation for the rest of the season is difficult. However we are looking forward to the next race in Singapore before which we will have a huge development programme.” Willy Rampf (Head of Engineering): “Both Nick and Robert started the race from quite hopeless positions but were able to gain a couple of places at the start. Robert damaged his front wing. For safety reasons we had to call him into the pits and change his front wing. A couple of laps later we diagnosed a gearbox oil leak and Robert had to retire. Nick drove consistently good lap times and was able to move up the grid continuously to eighth. Of course at the end of the day we are happy to score two points."
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BMW Sauber F1 Team - Italian Grand Prix - Preview

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