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Japan Review: Superb start gives Kubica a podium
By BMW Sauber F1 Team
January 3 2009
Formula One races in Japan are not for the faint-hearted. After the rain-induced chaos of last year, the 16th race of the 2008 season was once again incident-packed. Robert Kubica celebrated a second place finish behind Fernando Alonso (Renault) after the 67-lap race had run its course.
During this year's Japanese Grand Prix at the foot of Mount Fuji the feared weather stayed away. However, there was more than enough excitement. That Robert Kubica retained a chance of winning the Drivers' World Championship was mainly thanks to his clear head during the hectic start phase. Nick Heidfeld, starting from the lower reaches of the grid, was able to salvage ninth.

During the Grand Prix weekend rain fell just once at the 4.563-kilometre circuit - but it enabled the BMW Sauber F1 Team to prove that it was able to cope with all types of conditions: during the third free practice session Robert and Nick were first and fourth-fastest respectively.

However, the drivers proved unable to repeat their performances during qualifying. During the closing stages of the first qualifying phase, Nick ventured on to the track on hard compound tyres. However, conditions suddenly improved, enabling the opposition fitted with soft tyres to massively improve their times. Thus Nick missed the »cut«, ending up 16th. Robert progressed through all three qualifying phases without problems, and finally set the sixth-fastest time in his BMW Sauber F1.08.

The BMW Sauber F1 Team's drivers did not, though, remain in these positions for long, for chaos soon reigned in the first corner of the »Fuji International Speedway«. When the leading group out-braked itself and missed the racing line, Robert was prepared. He took stock of the situation, exploited the confusion and assumed the lead. Behind him Alonso had also made good progress, and overtook the BMW Sauber F1 Team driver during the first round of pit stops.

Thereafter it fell to Robert to ward off the advances of Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari). He did so masterfully, thwarting the Finn's every attacking move. "We had a tremendous fight," Robert commented afterwards about the hard but fair duel. Nick, too, made up a few positions at the start, but remained stuck in the mid-field. "I was on a one-stop strategy, and pitted late," explained the German. "Accordingly the car was heavy and difficult to drive." His fighting drive and classy overtaking manoeuvres, though, went unrewarded, and he consoled himself with ninth.

Unlike Robert, who held on to second place to end the Japanese Grand Prix as runner-up to Alonso. It was the BMW Sauber F1 Team's 11th podium finish of the season, while Robert's result meant he retained a chance of winning the World Drivers' Championship. The team from Munich and Hinwil, too, remained in the running for the Constructors' Championship.

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