Friday Report – BMW is not at its best

This first day for BMW was not ideal, but the important thing is that no problems were encountered.

The rain this morning prevented the two drivers – Kubica and Heidfeld – from running during the first session. They therefore started the second session with a greater constraint, but managed the session well and overall delivered good performances.

Robert Kubica – No time – 6th

« This morning, we didn’t drive because of bad weather. But in session two, our forecasts didn’t predict rain, and that’s what happened. So we were able to try to make up for lost time and had good tire tests. The only issue comes from graining on the tires. It’s also very difficult to control. »

« The new tarmac on the track is very good, the bumps are gone and the track has become smooth. Normally, the bumps should have remained, but here that wasn’t the case and it’s for the better. »

« It was therefore easier to drive this afternoon while trying to find the right balance for the car, but it is just as enjoyable as before to drive here. »

Nick Heidfeld – No time – 10th

In the afternoon, I drove well (44 laps), which allowed me to do good tests on the tires. We have a lot of information at our disposal and the car’s balance was good right away. However, there was a bit of graining, but the new track surface is great.

Willy Rampf – Technical Director

« Since we are not expecting any track activity on Saturday and Sunday, we saw no point in running in the rain this morning. In the second session, we conducted tire evaluations with both drivers. We have quite a bit of data to choose the right type for the qualifying and the race. Moreover, the new track tends to improve constantly, which makes the lap times very interesting, especially since we had no technical problems. »