By BMW Sauber F1
September 25 2009

The backdrop for the start of the 14th Grand Prix weekend of the year could hardly have been any more impressive: The setting sun coloured the skies over the "Marina Bay Circuit" in red, as the drivers started their work in the first free practice session for the Singapore GP.

Ninety minutes later Robert Kubica was eighth in the final classification, with Nick Heidfeld finishing the session in 14th at the wheel of the updated BMW Sauber F1.09.

Shortly after the red light at the pit lane exit went out to signal the start of the session, there was already some work for the BMW Sauber F1 Team pit crew: On his installation lap, Nick suffered a technical problem. In record-breaking time the crew changed the gearbox after the German returned to the pits, allowing him to rejoin the action without a significant loss of running time.

Track time, however, was reduced due to an accident involving Renault's Romain Grosjean. In Turn 14 he lost control of his car, hit the barriers with the right rear wheel and then damaged his front wing against the wall on the opposite side of the track. Following an 11-minute break, the session was resumed - and as night fell the BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers also went out to set their first lap times.

Following another installation lap, which he used to check the new gearbox, Nick completed two stints. In the dying moments of the session the 32-year.old clocked his personal best time of 1:51.656 minutes, putting him in 14th after 15 laps. Robert, too, did a total of 15 laps on the twisty street circuit. His best lap was clocked at 1:50.815 minutes. Robert finished the session in eighth, 0.636 seconds behind the fastest driver, Rubens Barrichello (Brawn).

Second free practice in Singapore will get underway at 21:30hrs local time (14:30hrs BST). The meteorologists see a chance for rain during the session.