mika
Still Wondering
Closing Singapore notes
BMW Sauber F1 Team - Singapore Grand Prix - Race
09-28-2008 Press Release
Weather: Dry track. Air: 28-30??C, Track: 31-32??C, Humidity: 66%-79%
Singapore (SG). Instead of the predicted procession on the narrow Singapore Marina Circuit, the huge crowd saw a very exciting first Formula One night race. However, the rewards for the BMW Sauber F1 Team were somewhat poor with only three points for Nick Heidfeld (6th) after Robert KubicaÔÇÖs very bad luck. The Pole needed to refuel when the pit lane was closed during a safety car period, and after being penalised he finished eleventh.
Nick Heidfeld: 6th
BMW Sauber F1.08-07 / BMW P86/8
Fastest Lap: 1:47.306 min on lap 14 (11th fastest overall)
ÔÇ£Although I shouldnÔÇÖt complain about finishing sixth when I came from ninth, I must say it is such a shame I couldnÔÇÖt show my pace today. The car was so good and I could have gone a lot faster if I hadnÔÇÖt been stuck in traffic all the time. I was even saving fuel and tyres because I hoped the others would kill their tyres and I could attack later. I think some did ruin their rubber, but still this wasnÔÇÖt enough of an advantage to overtake. I had a good start during which I managed to pass Nico Rosberg. However, because of how the race turned out for me I hardly sweated at all.ÔÇØ
Robert Kubica: 11th
BMW Sauber F1.08-05 / BMW P86/8
Fastest Lap: 1:46.899 min on lap 14 (6th fastest overall)
ÔÇ£The race was physically very hard. There are so many bumps, I hope the organisers will work on the surface for next year. On top of that, the visibility was getting worse and worse as I was getting tired. Over the final fifteen laps I had an incredible headache. The decision not to pit on the first lap when the pit lane was closed because of the Safety Car was unlucky, and cost me a good race result as the cars behind me closed the gap. The team thought the pit lane would reopen very soon, but this was not the case. However, thatÔÇÖs racing.ÔÇØ
Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director):
ÔÇ£Another spectacular chapter was added to the Formula One history book. The first night race was a total success. My compliments go to the organisers. The race itself was turbulent and influenced by the first safety car period. Unfortunately the safety car rule meant Robert was completely out of contention in the race, whereas Nick was able to stay out just long enough until the pit lane was reopened. This was a shame for Robert because he was well on his way to score important points for the championship standings. By finishing sixth Nick made up three positions and scored three points. Everything didnÔÇÖt go according to plan either for our direct competitors as, apart from Nick, out of the top six only Lewis Hamilton scored points. Congratulations to Renault and Fernando Alonso for the win in this exciting race.ÔÇØ
Willy Rampf (Technical Director):
ÔÇ£The race start was okay for our drivers. Robert managed to defend his position and Nick gained a place. After that the race went according to plan for both cars and they were able to open a gap over the cars behind. However, then the first safety car period ruined Robert's race completely. We had to refuel although the pit lane was still closed. The penalty dropped Robert into a hopeless position at the end of the field - and this on a circuit where anyway you can hardly overtake. In the end Nick scored three points, so this means we have still scored championship points in every Grand Prix this year.ÔÇØ
Just some random thoughts on F1 while watching the Packers is driving me crazy.
Pit Stops and Penalties
Pit stops were put in to make races more exciting. F1 races were parades for many years as it became more and more difficult to pass on the track. Pit stops were intended to mix the grid up during the race put strategy in and as a result make it more exciting for the fan.
Thank you F1. They have brought strategy back to the track. Robert KubicaÔÇÖs podium finish at Monza was in very large part due to pit strategy. This week Alonso and Reanualt made a brilliant move to start on soft tires, short the first fuel run and as a result bring home a win. It is fun to see how teams will work fueling and required tire changes into their strategies.
What we do not want to see is someone killed during fueling. High pressure fueling, in terms of both hose pressure and speed demands, are going to kill a pit crew member if this is not addressed soon. F1 is known for high technology. The technology currently being applied to pit stops is not improving things. F1 and the FIA have to get control of this before they kill someone due to lack of action. The teams are culpable in this, yet the rules were made to protect the interest in and resulting revenue from F1 racing. The teams are making the best of the current situation that F1 and the FIA have created.
Safety Car Deployment and the need to pit must be better managed by the rules of F1. Too many races this season have had results for various teams impacted by this.
The initial fuel load determined in qualifying. The Q3 starting fuel load locks the tanks for the top ten at that time. This load must cover qualifying and first leg of the race. An adjustment needs to be made in either the qualifying/race fuel load procedures or for the first deployment of the safety car.
The penalties for the pit violations have been staggering for race results in the way they are applied. In most races it takes the penalized driver out of the competition. That was the case once again for BMW and Robert Kubica. With the exception of Alonso everyone who finished behind Rosberg could well be upset. Rosberg and Williams-Toyota gained an advantage in pitting then were able to consolidate that position in the way they were able to gain interval by being in P1 and running away from the rest of the field.
Bottom line for me F1 is your effort to bring strategy into races is going to bring tragedy. Find a way to avoid the tragedy and fewer and fewer penalties will be issues in determining race results.
BMW Sauber ÔÇô Racing in 2008 or Building for 2009
The reality is in the second half of the season every team must do both. Some of the teamÔÇÖs resources must be deployed to the development of next yearÔÇÖs car. The first race is so important. You can not casually give up points in either the constructors or drivers championships. At the same time how do you manage for the current season?
RenaultÔÇÖs progress in closing the performance gap between it and BMW Sauber may be coming at some cost to their 2009 season. Wins help secure sponsors, solidify contracts and the willingness of corporate boards to expend the money Renault must in order to race and develop engines.
BMW Sauber has struck a politically correct kind of solution that has real potential to stink up the house.
The Drivers Championship ÔÇô
Kubica in third is upset at the balance of support within the team. Heidfeld is still in fifth but frankly in the second half of the season has not seemed to contribute out of brilliance but out of luck. Resources are supposedly split evenly between the two. At this point in the season why not push your front horse.
Constructors Championship ÔÇô
BMW is secure in third. Yet there is no reason that with a strong commitment to the 2008 season they could not be in second place. They have not found what it takes to move them to the next level.
Develop for 2009 ÔÇô
Part of every team from the top of the P1 to P20 is in the process of developing their 2009 car. In the case of Force India your strategy is to do what it takes to field a car this year but all development is focused on the 2009 car. The top level teams, in this era insert Ferrari and McLaren, find ways to manage these two championship hunts and develop their 2009 car.
BMW has not managed the driver championship. Kubica is at the point of turning into a bitter prima dona. He was taken in tow by management going into this weekend with mixed results at best. Heidfled is reaching his useful end within the team. He has not been signed for next season. Why not see if you can move Kubica up in this championship and help set his attitude early for next season by shifting resources in that direction?
We will not know until the 2009 car is revealed and raced if the proper balance has been struck between racing for the current season and developing for the next.
Fans are fickle. They root, boo and analyze for what is in front of them at any given moment.
Drivers race the hardware they have in the season they are in.
Team management and owners are the only group that constantly has one foot in the present while stepping forward into and defining the future. At this juncture I am a bit dubious that step is going to take BMW Sauber to the next level in 2009.
The way things look in the future or just a cool picture from Singapore 2008?
BMW Sauber F1 Team - Singapore Grand Prix - Race
09-28-2008 Press Release
Weather: Dry track. Air: 28-30??C, Track: 31-32??C, Humidity: 66%-79%
Singapore (SG). Instead of the predicted procession on the narrow Singapore Marina Circuit, the huge crowd saw a very exciting first Formula One night race. However, the rewards for the BMW Sauber F1 Team were somewhat poor with only three points for Nick Heidfeld (6th) after Robert KubicaÔÇÖs very bad luck. The Pole needed to refuel when the pit lane was closed during a safety car period, and after being penalised he finished eleventh.
Nick Heidfeld: 6th
BMW Sauber F1.08-07 / BMW P86/8
Fastest Lap: 1:47.306 min on lap 14 (11th fastest overall)
ÔÇ£Although I shouldnÔÇÖt complain about finishing sixth when I came from ninth, I must say it is such a shame I couldnÔÇÖt show my pace today. The car was so good and I could have gone a lot faster if I hadnÔÇÖt been stuck in traffic all the time. I was even saving fuel and tyres because I hoped the others would kill their tyres and I could attack later. I think some did ruin their rubber, but still this wasnÔÇÖt enough of an advantage to overtake. I had a good start during which I managed to pass Nico Rosberg. However, because of how the race turned out for me I hardly sweated at all.ÔÇØ
Robert Kubica: 11th
BMW Sauber F1.08-05 / BMW P86/8
Fastest Lap: 1:46.899 min on lap 14 (6th fastest overall)
ÔÇ£The race was physically very hard. There are so many bumps, I hope the organisers will work on the surface for next year. On top of that, the visibility was getting worse and worse as I was getting tired. Over the final fifteen laps I had an incredible headache. The decision not to pit on the first lap when the pit lane was closed because of the Safety Car was unlucky, and cost me a good race result as the cars behind me closed the gap. The team thought the pit lane would reopen very soon, but this was not the case. However, thatÔÇÖs racing.ÔÇØ
Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director):
ÔÇ£Another spectacular chapter was added to the Formula One history book. The first night race was a total success. My compliments go to the organisers. The race itself was turbulent and influenced by the first safety car period. Unfortunately the safety car rule meant Robert was completely out of contention in the race, whereas Nick was able to stay out just long enough until the pit lane was reopened. This was a shame for Robert because he was well on his way to score important points for the championship standings. By finishing sixth Nick made up three positions and scored three points. Everything didnÔÇÖt go according to plan either for our direct competitors as, apart from Nick, out of the top six only Lewis Hamilton scored points. Congratulations to Renault and Fernando Alonso for the win in this exciting race.ÔÇØ
Willy Rampf (Technical Director):
ÔÇ£The race start was okay for our drivers. Robert managed to defend his position and Nick gained a place. After that the race went according to plan for both cars and they were able to open a gap over the cars behind. However, then the first safety car period ruined Robert's race completely. We had to refuel although the pit lane was still closed. The penalty dropped Robert into a hopeless position at the end of the field - and this on a circuit where anyway you can hardly overtake. In the end Nick scored three points, so this means we have still scored championship points in every Grand Prix this year.ÔÇØ
Just some random thoughts on F1 while watching the Packers is driving me crazy.
Pit Stops and Penalties
Pit stops were put in to make races more exciting. F1 races were parades for many years as it became more and more difficult to pass on the track. Pit stops were intended to mix the grid up during the race put strategy in and as a result make it more exciting for the fan.
Thank you F1. They have brought strategy back to the track. Robert KubicaÔÇÖs podium finish at Monza was in very large part due to pit strategy. This week Alonso and Reanualt made a brilliant move to start on soft tires, short the first fuel run and as a result bring home a win. It is fun to see how teams will work fueling and required tire changes into their strategies.
What we do not want to see is someone killed during fueling. High pressure fueling, in terms of both hose pressure and speed demands, are going to kill a pit crew member if this is not addressed soon. F1 is known for high technology. The technology currently being applied to pit stops is not improving things. F1 and the FIA have to get control of this before they kill someone due to lack of action. The teams are culpable in this, yet the rules were made to protect the interest in and resulting revenue from F1 racing. The teams are making the best of the current situation that F1 and the FIA have created.
Safety Car Deployment and the need to pit must be better managed by the rules of F1. Too many races this season have had results for various teams impacted by this.
The initial fuel load determined in qualifying. The Q3 starting fuel load locks the tanks for the top ten at that time. This load must cover qualifying and first leg of the race. An adjustment needs to be made in either the qualifying/race fuel load procedures or for the first deployment of the safety car.
The penalties for the pit violations have been staggering for race results in the way they are applied. In most races it takes the penalized driver out of the competition. That was the case once again for BMW and Robert Kubica. With the exception of Alonso everyone who finished behind Rosberg could well be upset. Rosberg and Williams-Toyota gained an advantage in pitting then were able to consolidate that position in the way they were able to gain interval by being in P1 and running away from the rest of the field.
Bottom line for me F1 is your effort to bring strategy into races is going to bring tragedy. Find a way to avoid the tragedy and fewer and fewer penalties will be issues in determining race results.
BMW Sauber ÔÇô Racing in 2008 or Building for 2009
The reality is in the second half of the season every team must do both. Some of the teamÔÇÖs resources must be deployed to the development of next yearÔÇÖs car. The first race is so important. You can not casually give up points in either the constructors or drivers championships. At the same time how do you manage for the current season?
RenaultÔÇÖs progress in closing the performance gap between it and BMW Sauber may be coming at some cost to their 2009 season. Wins help secure sponsors, solidify contracts and the willingness of corporate boards to expend the money Renault must in order to race and develop engines.
BMW Sauber has struck a politically correct kind of solution that has real potential to stink up the house.
The Drivers Championship ÔÇô
Kubica in third is upset at the balance of support within the team. Heidfeld is still in fifth but frankly in the second half of the season has not seemed to contribute out of brilliance but out of luck. Resources are supposedly split evenly between the two. At this point in the season why not push your front horse.
Constructors Championship ÔÇô
BMW is secure in third. Yet there is no reason that with a strong commitment to the 2008 season they could not be in second place. They have not found what it takes to move them to the next level.
Develop for 2009 ÔÇô
Part of every team from the top of the P1 to P20 is in the process of developing their 2009 car. In the case of Force India your strategy is to do what it takes to field a car this year but all development is focused on the 2009 car. The top level teams, in this era insert Ferrari and McLaren, find ways to manage these two championship hunts and develop their 2009 car.
BMW has not managed the driver championship. Kubica is at the point of turning into a bitter prima dona. He was taken in tow by management going into this weekend with mixed results at best. Heidfled is reaching his useful end within the team. He has not been signed for next season. Why not see if you can move Kubica up in this championship and help set his attitude early for next season by shifting resources in that direction?
We will not know until the 2009 car is revealed and raced if the proper balance has been struck between racing for the current season and developing for the next.
Fans are fickle. They root, boo and analyze for what is in front of them at any given moment.
Drivers race the hardware they have in the season they are in.
Team management and owners are the only group that constantly has one foot in the present while stepping forward into and defining the future. At this juncture I am a bit dubious that step is going to take BMW Sauber to the next level in 2009.
The way things look in the future or just a cool picture from Singapore 2008?
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