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08 Races Review: Disaster in Hungary
By BMW Sauber F1 Team
December 23 2008
For the BMW Sauber F1 Team the race in Budapest proved to be hardly worth the journey. After Nick Heidfeld had scored straight podium places at the Hungaroring for the past two seasons, this year's race effectively went away from the team from Munich and Hinwil. At least Robert Kubica, though, scored a point.
That the BMW Sauber F1 Team's expected success at the Grand Prix of Hungary would not materialise became clear during the Free Practice sessions when the team experienced tyre graining on this sinuous circuit. Still, during Qualifying Robert proved to be one of the fastest drivers. Thanks to a flawless performance he was able to start from fourth on the grid. However, Nick's 16th place saw him miss the cut for the second qualifying phase. »On my last lap there were four cars which blocked me«, the disappointed driver explained. That Sébastien Bourdais (Toro Rosso) would be docked five grid places as a result, was of little consolation for Nick.

After the start it appeared as though Nick was poised to continue his impressive Hockenheim charge through the field. Despite a full fuel load he was able to make up three places in the opening lap. »Thereafter the task became much more difficult as the car was heavy due to our planned one-stop strategy«, Nick later explained. He alone had elected to stop just once, thereby hoping to profit from a Safety Car phase as had occurred in Germany. In Hungary this, though, came to nought - forcing Nick to console himself with tenth place.

Robert, however, pinned his hopes on a two-stop strategy. He was one of the first to refuel, doing so on Lap 18 and changing only his rear tyres. The timing of the stop, though, proved unfortunate, and after the mainstream had completed their initial stops, Robert was left languishing in tenth place. He had lost too much time whilst grappling in the mid-field after his stop to resume his place at the sharp end of the race.

Still, Robert had a firm belief that he would leave Hungary with a tangible reward, and the BMW Sauber F1 Team driver was duly granted ninth place and a whiff of points when David Coulthard (Red Bull) was forced to stop for a second change of tyres 16 laps from the end. Then, when Felipe Massa struck bad luck and was forced to retire his Ferrari with a technical problem whilst in the lead, Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) was not only gifted his first career win, but Robert scored that hoped-for world championship point.

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