Formula One news

Dismal day for BMW

The BMW team's disastrous end to the second pair of 'flyaway' races in 2009 resulted in eighteenth and nineteenth places at the Bahrain Grand Prix. After sharing the seventh row at the start, both cars were involved in first corner skirmishes which resulted on one of the team's worst races since taking over Sauber for 2006.

Frustration is building for BMW which, as it concentrated development on this year's car, sacrificed a title attack with Robert Kubica in 2008. "My race was destroyed after corner one," he said. "I was between Nick and another car, we touched each other and I destroyed my front wing; then after the crash there was a miscommunication with the pit crew - I asked to come in straight away, but was only able to pit after the second lap." The Pole then struggled with a car carrying a large amount of fuel and Medium compound tyres, the less grippy of the two on option this weekend.

"The result is a disaster, although we were unlucky with the collision in the first corner," said Heidfeld, who also finished a lap down but behind his team-mate. "At first I thought the suspension was broken, but I only had to have a new nose fitted in the pits and to continue. The first half of the race - with the harder tyres - was difficult, but the softer compound made it a little bit easier. However, it is another race to forget and we all hope for improvements in Barcelona."

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