BMW Sauber F1.08
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| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
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| Constructor | BMW Sauber | ||||||||
| Designer(s) |  Willy Rampf(Technical Director) Mario Theissen(BMW Motorsport Director) |
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| Technical Specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Carbon-fibre monocoque. | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Oupper and lower wishbones, push-rod activated inboard spring/damper (Sachs Race Engineering). Zero keel geometry. | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Oupper and lower wishbones, push-rod activated inboard spring/damper(Sachs Race Engineering). | ||||||||
| Track-width | F: 1470 mm (58 in) R: 1410 mm (56 in) |
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| Wheelbase | 3110 mm (122 in) | ||||||||
| Engine | BMW P86/8 2400 cc (146 cu in) 90° V8. Naturally aspirated, 19.000 RPM Limited mid-engine, longitudinally mounted | ||||||||
| Transmission | BMW Sauber 7-speed "Quick Shift Gearbox (QSG)". longitudinally mounted, carbon-fibre clutch (AP) (AP). | ||||||||
| Weight | 605 kg (1334 lb) | ||||||||
| Fuel | Petronas | ||||||||
| Tyres | Bridgestone Potenza OZ Wheels Front & Rear |
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| Competition History | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | BMW Sauber | ||||||||
| Notable drivers | 3. Nick Heidfeld 4.  Robert Kubica |
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| Debut | 2008 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||
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The BMW Sauber F1.08 is a Formula One racing car used by the BMW Sauber team during the 2008 Formula One season.
Contents |
[edit] Launch
The F1.08 was launched on January 14 2008 in Munich.[1] The car was taken out for the first time at the Valencia circuit a day after the launch, where Nick Heidfeld took the car for a brief spin at BMW Welt, the BMW delivery center in Munich. The first track outing of the F1.08 was given to Robert Kubica.[2]
[edit] Designer change
This is the first BMW Sauber to not be designed by Jörg Zander who left the team to go to Honda F1 in January 2008.[3]
[edit] Livery and sponsorship
For the 2008 season, BMW Sauber has kept the white and navy livery used on its cars in 2006 and 2007. However, O2 has been replaced by T-Systems [4], and Cadence Design Systems[5] have also became an official equipment supplier. The team continues to be sponsored and supported by Petronas, Intel, Dell and Credit Suisse.
[edit] Technical developments of the F1.08
[edit] Rules changes
The FIA have implemented a set of rules for the 2008 season that will see all teams use one gearbox for four races and a standard McLaren Electronic Systems ECU that prevents the use of driving aids such as traction control and engine braking.
[edit] Aerodynamic and mechanical changes
The sidepod areas have undergone massive changes for 2008, along with a cleaning up of the area in front of the rear wing.[6] This makes the airflow cleaner and smoother over the car to the rear wing,[7] increasing downforce. The F1.08 also introduces a new front wing that is suspended above the nose.[8] It is similar to the wing introduced on the McLaren MP4-22 in 2007, but it instead has a triple profile. The team has also tested 'antlers': vertical fins on the nosecone of the F1.08 in testing.
[edit] 2008 season
[edit] Early 2008 testing
The first run of the F1.08 was at an exclusive three day test at the Valencia circuit in Spain. Heidfeld had the duty of testing the F1.08 whilst teammate Kubica drove the F1.07B for the duration of the three day test with the exception of the first day where Heidfeld drove the F1.07B.[9] However when the team returned to the same circuit to test the F1.08 on 23 January, it was shown to be slow in comparison to its competitors and the team's previous pace.[10] Technical director Willy Rampf has played down rumors of a lack of speed[11] and has confirmed that the car will be running in a revised form at the Barcelona test on 1 to 3 February 2008.
[edit] Successful start to season
The BMW Sauber team enjoyed a successful start to the 2008 season with Nick Heidfeld finishing second in Melbourne, 5.4 seconds behind the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton. At the next race in Malaysia Robert Kubica finished second, 19.5 seconds behind Kimi Räikkönen and his Ferrari; Nick Heidfeld also took the fastest lap. At the Bahrain Grand Prix Kubica took pole, just 0.027 seconds ahead of Ferrari driver Felipe Massa. In the race, however, Kubica started badly and lost ground to Massa in the first corner and to Raikkonen early in the race as well. Kubica and Heidfeld finished behind both Ferarris, in 3rd and 4th places, respectively.
After the Bahrain race BMW Sauber were leading the Constructors' Championship, a point ahead of Ferrari and two ahead of McLaren-Merecedes.
[edit] The Early Middle Season
After the successful start of the 2008 season, the BMW Sauber team enjoyed being a strong performer at the front of the grid. At Barcelona, Kubica finished 4th, whilst Heidfeld finished out of the points in 9th. In Turkey, both BMW Sauber cars finished 4Th and 5th, with Kubica finishing in 4th. However, Kubica was to make a great impact at the rain impacted and incident laden Monaco Grand Prix, he equaled Heidfelds Australian Grand Prix finish of 2nd, just 3 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton, Heidfeld finished 14th 4 laps down.
[edit] First Win and 1-2 At Canada
The best result of the season came at the Canadian Grand Prix, with Kubica qualifying on the front row of the grid, on second behind Lewis Hamilton, with Heidfeld qualifying in 13th. In the race Kubica was in second 7 seconds behind Hamilton when a saftey car situation caused by Sutil, the top cars pitted in under safety car, Kubica and Räikkönen stopped at the end of the pit lane, both leading Hamilton out of the pits, only for a red light to be on, Räikkönen and Kubica stopped, but only for Hamilton to crash into the rear of Räikkönen, with Rossberg crashing into the rear of Hamilton. Räikkönen, and Hamilton retired, with Rossberg only needing a new nose, Kubica emerged unscathed.
Heidfeld led after the only safety car period, when he pitted he had around a 25 second lead over Kubica, who was down in around 10th at the time. Heidfeld was released in front of his team mate, but was slow due to fueling levels and was passed by Kubica a lap later.
Kubica then built up a large lead, pitted and came out ahead of Heidfeld, this was the way it would stay for the rest of the race, with Kubica finishing in 1st 16 seconds ahead of his BMW Sauber team mate who was around 8 seconds ahead of Red Bull driver David Coulthard.
[edit] Complete Formula One results
(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)
| Year | Team | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | BMW Sauber | BMW V8 | B | AUS | MAL | BHR | ESP | TUR | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | EUR | BEL | ITA | SIN | JPN | CHN | BRA | 70* | 2nd* | |
| Heidfeld | 2 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 14 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Kubica | Ret | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
* Season in progress
[edit] External links
- [1] - bmw-sauber-f1.com
[edit] References
- ^ "BMW presents new car in Munich", f1.gpupdate.net.
- ^ "Positive start to BMW Sauber F1.08 testing at Valencia", f1technical.net.
- ^ BBC SPORT | Motorsport | Formula One | New designer for struggling Honda
- ^ "BMW Sauber F1 Team and T-Systems launch technology partnership", press.bmw-motorsport.com.
- ^ "BMW Sauber F1 Team welcomes Cadence as official equipment supplier", press.bmw-motorsport.com.
- ^ "F1.08: Tiny rear and and new layout of T-wings", f1technical.net.
- ^ "Shaping up the sidepod: BMW Sauber F1.08", f1technical.net.
- ^ "BMW Sauber learn from McLaren nose", f1technical.net.
- ^ "BMW Sauber wrap up exclusive Valencia test", Formual1.com.
- ^ "Valencia day two - Ferrari dominate in Spain", Formula1.com.
- ^ "BMW working on slow F1.08 - Rampf", manipef1.com.
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