BMW Expects Full Potential from New Package at Suzuka

Although they've introduced a brand new package aimed to bring them one full second per lap in the Singapore Grand Prix, BMW Sauber did not score the awaited results at the Marina Bay Circuit. Robert Kubica managed to secure only one point for the Hinwil based team, which he later argued that it was the hardest to score in his entire career.

The newly revised BMW F1.09 had come to Singapore with a new front wing, more deeply undercut sidepods, a further developed double diffuser and a modified rear wing. However, BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen believes the new package will show its full potential at Suzuka.

“The upgrade is working. I hope it will be even strong on a fast track like Suzuka next weekend. I think we have not fully exploited the potential yet. We had limited time. Compared to the qualifying performance, the race performance was not equally good, so I think there is something to gain and now it's up to us to sort this out for Suzuka and try to be stronger there,” said Theissen in a preview of the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend.

In terms of car's setup for the Suzuka race, BMW's head of engineering Willy Rampf revealed that, although the characteristics of the Japanese circuit are somehow different to what BMW has experienced in Singapore, the BMW F1.09 will feature the same level of downforce as last weekend.

“The dominant feature are the medium and high-speed corners. It’s a real contrast to Singapore’s city circuit which has more of a stop-go rhythm. That’s why the car’s balance is so important in Suzuka. As for configuration, we’ll be setting the car up with a high downforce level similar to that in Singapore,” said Rampf.