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Kubica scores 4 points in France
By BMW Sauber F1 Team
June 23 2008
In a rather uneventful French Grand Prix, Robert Kubica defended his fifth position throughout the race to score four points. Nick Heidfeld, who had started eleventh on the grid, finished 13th and had to leave Magny-Cours empty-handed.Two weeks after the fantastic one-two in Canada, the French Grand Prix proved to be a difficult race for the BMW Sauber F1 Team.

Prior to the start, Robert had gained a place as McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen received a five-position grid penalty for impeding Red Bull's Mark Webber during the qualifying session.

From his fifth position on the grid, the Pole made a good start and passed Renault's Fernando Alonso for fourth, but the Spaniard struck back before the first lap was over and re-passed the BMW Sauber F1 Team driver. At the same time, Nick - who started the race on a heavy fuel load - dropped back to 13th from his eleventh position on the grid.

Nick battled it out with Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel throughout the race, with the two Germans even making their two pit stops on the same laps (30 and 49). However, even the quick work of the BMW Sauber F1 Team pit crew didn't help Nick to pass his compatriot, and in the end he had to settle for finishing 13th.

Robert, however, was in a better position. Following his first stop on lap 21, he continued delivering in competitive style. Once everybody had made their first scheduled pit stops, the 23-year-old held fourth, just 1.2 seconds behind third-placed Jarno Trulli (Toyota). 

For the next 15 laps, he followed the Italian like a shadow and seemed likely to pass him for third. But when Robert made his second stop four laps earlier than Trulli on lap 47, the Toyota driver was able to open a small gap. On lap 53, Robert lost his fourth position to McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen who benefited from his late second stop and rejoined the race ahead of the Pole.

On lap 60 light rain began to fall in some sections of the track. Had this rain been a little heavier it could possibly have offered Robert the chance of passing Kovalainen and Trulli for a podium finish. But at the end of the day, the rain stopped just two laps later and Robert opted for backing off to secure the four points for his fifth place rather than taking unnecessary risks and possibly losing everything.

 The French Grand Prix wasn't exactly what you would call a fantastic race weekend for the BMW Sauber F1 Team. By finishing fifth and adding four points to the Munich and Hinwil based squad's tally, however, Robert succeeded in cutting its losses.

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