Formula One news

BMW drivers on final engines

BMW pilots Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica will be running their eighth and final allocated engines in Singapore next weekend following a disastrous failing in both cars at Monza last Saturday. Use of a ninth unit before the end of the year will result in a 10-place grid drop.

With new rules for 2009 stating that drivers are allocated eight engines per season, more may be used although each new engine thereafter will hand the driver involved a 10-place grid penalty. With BMW having suffered two identical problems just minutes within each other during qualifying in Italy, both drivers now face penalties before the season is over.

Dr. Mario Theissen, Team Principal of BMW Sauber

"The cause of our engine problems in qualifying at Monza was a quality issue with the valve gear and this means that we can't use either of the engines again," Team Principal Mario Theissen explained. "Both drivers ran their engines from Spa in Sunday's race at Monza, which leaves them with one more new engine each and several used ones for the remainder of the season.

"The key question will now be whether these will be enough; if not, we will be forced to use a ninth engine and take a ten-place grid penalty as a result." The Hinwil outfit will be introducing a new aerodynamics package for the night race in Marina Bay, though, of which the German is confident. "We are looking forward to the whole show and are aiming to go on the attack with our significantly revised car," he added.

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