For Rampf, BMW made the right strategic choice…

BMW-Sauber may have aimed a little too high in 2008, but they do not regret having imposed an aggressive strategy on their car. The numerous difficulties the team has faced since the start of winter testing reflect this.

Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica have been struggling since the start of the season to achieve a good balance on the F1.08, preventing them from challenging the so-far unshakeable supremacy of the Ferraris and McLarens.

Despite the current state of affairs, technical director Willy Rampf also remains steadfast about the medium or long-term benefits of the aggressive strategy his team has implemented in the car’s design.

« This approach is the only possible option if you want to close the gap with the teams ahead of you. You never achieve anything if you maintain a conservative course, » Rampf stated on the official F1 website.

« Formula 1 requires us to take calculated risks at all times. And that’s exactly what we did. For us, a team must renew itself through a learning process that will ultimately make us even more competitive. »

With Heidfeld saying last week that BMW wasn’t done with its surprises in terms of problems, Rampf is more optimistic because he believes his team will overcome these issues.

« We have carefully analyzed all the data since the initial tests and have identified several areas where we can improve, » he said.

« It’s not an isolated part we must examine, but the interaction between these different areas. »

There is no doubt that the F1.08 is considerably faster than the F1.07, but it is more difficult to exploit its great potential at the moment. We still need a better understanding of the car as we are learning a little more about it every day. However, I have no doubt that we will succeed, concluded Willy Rampf.