Information about BMW Sauber

History of BMW Sauber in F1

BMW Sauber first entered the F1 world in 2006 and is a relative newcomer to the Grand Prix. Before BMW took over the team, Sauber had only managed fourth place in the constructors’ championship standings back in 2001. In the first year since becoming BMW Sauber, the team ended up in fifth position and tallied up two podium finishes. In the following year, they managed an impressive second place thanks to the elimination of the McLaren team. They had scored in all 17 races and boasted two podium finishes, with Robert Kubica fighting with Nick Heidfeld for the number one driver position. In 2008, BMW Sauber celebrated its first Grand Prix win when Robert Kubica won the Canadian race and succeeded in getting nine other podium finishes. The team finished the campaign in third position, with a worthy 135 points, transforming themselves into indisputable title challengers.

BMW Sauber information

BMW Sauber is based in Hinwil, Switzerland, and Munich, Germany, and they took over from the previous Sauber F1 team when the BMW contract with Williams finished. The team principal is Mario Theissen and the team uses the Bridgestone Potenza tyres along with a BMW P86/9 engine. They have so far secured one Grand Prix win and one pole position, with Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld both retaining their places in the team for 2009. This year welcomes the team into their fourth campaign and they will be looking to contend with the dominating teams of Ferrari and McLaren.

Technical details and statistics

Modifications have made the 2009 nose cone on the BMW Sauber much wider and larger outer endplates that are designed to direct airflow away from the front tyres.

Base: Munich, Germany and Hinwil, Switzerland
Team principal: Mario Theissen
Main drivers: Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld
Engine: BMW P86/9
Chassis: FL.09
Tyres: Bridgestone Potenza
Debut F1 season: 1993
World Championship titles: 0
Highest race finish: 1st (x1)
Pole positions: 1
Fastest lap times: 2

Driver no.1: Robert Kubica

Robert Kubica was born in Krakow and first competed professionally in the Italian Formula Renault 2000 and Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup in 2001. He made his debut for the BMW Sauber team in 2006, when an accident at Hockenheim ruled out Jacques Villeneuve. He finished in seventh position but was ruled out of the standings for an underweight car, but he went on to finish on the podium in only his third race in 2006. He is the only Polish driver to race in Formula One and he won his first Grand Prix in 2008 in Canada.

Statistics
Nationality: Polish
Date of birth: 07/12/1984
World Championship titles: 0
Number of Grands Prix won: 1
Pole positions: 1
Career points: 120
Podiums: 8

Driver no.2: Nick Heidfeld

TNick Heidfeld was born in Monchengladbach and started his racing career in 1995 and finished as runner-up in the German Formula Ford Championship. He made his Formula One debut in 2000 with the Prost team and went on to drive for Jordon and Williams before joining BMW Sauber in 2006. 2007 saw the German dominate his team mate, Robert Kubica but finished the 2008 campaign in sixth, compared to Kubica’s fourth.

Statistics
Nationality: German
Date of birth: 10/05/1977
World Championship titles: 0
Number of Grands Prix won: 0
Pole positions: 1
Career points: 200
Podiums: 11