Formula One news

Kubica doubtful over BMW upgrades

Robert Kubica's feelings towards his 2009 season do not appear to have been lifted as his BMW Sauber team introduces an updated package for the F1.09 in Spain. Pole Kubica, a title challenger for most of last season, dropped off the pace towards the end of the year as the team concentrated on this season's car.

2009 has started in quite to opposite manner to what was expected for the Hilwil-based squad, however, with a miserable most recent race in Bahrain involving both Robert and German team-mate Nick Heidfeld finishing the Grand Prix as the final two runners.

"All the information and simulation data is giving quite big numbers, at least half a second," reported Kubica on the car's projected improvements. "But we have to see how it feels because we are quite far away from the top, so we have to make double the number of steps of the others; for sure we need at least two steps of improvement if the others stay at the same level, because the gap lately is nearly one second, or even more. So we need at least one second if the others stay at the same level, but we assume the others will improve.

"Also, the teams who were behind at the start of the season, like Ferrari and McLaren, are already in front. We have to move forward, keep working. I think we have to have a bit more time as well, to see and analyse which direction we are going in, and try to deliver more steps in the future."

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