Formula One news

BMW expected more from qualifying

The BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers qualified eighth and ninth in Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix. Nick Heidfeld, who lost a lot of track time on Friday, was almost two hundredths of a second faster than Robert Kubica. Everyone is following the weather forecast with interest as typhoon Krosa approaches the Chinese coast so tomorrow Shanghai could have some heavy rain. 

"I don't want to complain as my car was okay," said Heidfeld. "However, the time I lost in both Friday practice sessions definitely influenced the result. It was only in Q2 that I was able to drive on the limit, but this was not in every corner. In Q3 the balance was not so good with the fuel on board. Our weather forecast says rain for tomorrow. There is a typhoon in the area, but perhaps it will move elsewhere although at the moment that is not really clear."

Robert Kubica commented, "I have to be honest and say I was expecting more from today. This morning I was a lot happier with the car and felt we were going in the right direction for the set-up. However, this afternoon just didn't go right for me. I now have to concentrate on the race and hope the strategy I have can help me recover from this disappointing result." 

Team boss Mario Theissen added, "We had no problems during qualifying, and as has happened at every race this season we got both cars into the third qualifying session and this time we will be eighth and ninth. With rain forecast for tomorrow we will see what these grid positions are worth."

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