By BMW Sauber F1 Team
October 17 2008

In the first practice session for the Chinese Grand Prix, the BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers encountered no problems whatsoever and successfully completed their scheduled programmes. In the end, Robert Kubica finished fifth on the time sheets, with Nick Heidfeld finishing seventh. It was a promising first practice session for the BMW Sauber F1 Team. In warm and sunny conditions (26° C), Robert and Nick both set impressive, competitive lap times, with Robert being the slightly quicker and busier of the pairing.

Both BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers set their personal best times rather early, while focusing on their set-up work and tyre evaluations for Sunday's Grand Prix. Nonetheless, both succeeded in securing promising positions on the time sheets. Robert completed a total of 25 laps and on his ninth he set a personal fastest lap time of 1:36.507 minutes to finish fifth on the time sheets. Nick did two laps less than his team-mate and secured seventh position with his 1:37.040-minute lap.

In the second 90-minute practice session, beginning at 14:00hrs local time (07:00hrs BST), the Munich and Hinwil based team will continue its preparations for the remainder of the Chinese GP weekend. The goal: to achieve a level of competitiveness that will allow both the BMW Sauber F1 Team and Robert to keep their championship hopes alive in this Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix.