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Race Review: BMW only manages 5th and 6th in China
By BMW Sauber F1 Team
January 5 2009
The BMW Sauber F1 Team had every right to be proud of its championship standings ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix: two races from the end of the season the team remained in the running for both the Drivers' and Constructors' World Championships. Although nothing was to come of either title challenge, the team experienced a »happy end« to both its campaigns.
Within the BMW Sauber F1 Team dreams were prevalent ahead of the race in Shanghai. Thanks to consistently good performances posted throughout the season by both the BMW Sauber F1.08 and its two drivers, the team travelled to the Chinese Grand Prix with an outside chance of lifting both titles.

During the third free practice session at the »Shanghai International Circuit« Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica set the fastest and third-fastest times respectively. Thus the team's hopes of mixing it with world championship favourites Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) and Felipe Massa (Ferrari) remained alive. However, for Robert qualifying did not go to plan, and his 12th-fastest time meant he missed the cut into the final phase. Although Nick set a time good enough for seventh on the grid, the race stewards, though, decreed he had hindered David Coulthard (Red Bull) and adjudged the German a three-grid-place penalty

Contrary to the forecasts of the meteorologists, Sunday's weather proved to be bright and sunny. The BMW Sauber F1 Team went into the race from positions nine and eleven, for both Nick and Robert profited from the relegation of Mark Webber (Red Bull) due to an engine change. Despite their challenging starting positions, Robert and Nick were totally determined to score world championship points. Both gained several positions during the start.

Robert's excellent strategy stood him in good stead: having elected to start the race on a heavy fuel load, the Pole was one of the last to pit for refuelling. With his pit crew elected not to switch him to new tyres, his stop was over within mere seconds, enabling him to rejoin in seventh - directly behind his team-mate.

A defective tyre suffered by Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) moved the duo up another place each. After 56 laps Nick crossed the line fifth; Robert followed four seconds later, a place in arrears. Thus the team was rewarded with a respectable seven points.

"It is a fact that we are no longer in with a chance of winning the Constructors' title, while Robert is now also out of the running for the Drivers' championship", summarised Nick afterwards. "But we should not be disappointed, we had a fantastic third season, and Robert in particular had a very good year - and it is not yet over."

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