Robert Kubica set the fastest time of the opening free practice session ahead of this weekend's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
The session was half over before anyone started to set flying laps around the Albert Park circuit, after which the McLarens of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg and the Renault of Kubica traded the top spot.
Hamilton was quickest initially until Rosberg broke into the 1m27s. Kubica then hit the top with 15 minutes to go - setting the best time in each of the three sectors - and remained the only driver in the 1m26s.
The Ferraris of Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso finished the session fourth and sixth quickest, sandwiching the Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel.
Hamilton finished up seventh, not improving his best time in the second half of the session. Sebastien Buemi, Vitaly Petrov and Vitantonio Liuzzi completed the top 10.
Michael Schumacher was 12th fastest, 1.4 seconds slower than team-mate Rosberg, while home hero Mark Webber was 14th, one second slower than Vettel.
Kamui Kobayashi provided most of the session's drama in his BMW-Sauber, causing the only two red flag stoppages. Forty minutes into practice, the Japanese clipped the cone on the inside of Turn 11 and ripped half the front wing from his car. The lack of downforce meant he ran wide at Turn 12 - the second half of the fast left-right section on the back straight - and bounced through the gravel.
He was back out 20 minutes later with a new wing fitted, but it came off as he braked for Turn 3 on his outlap. He managed to keep the car out of the wall, but overshot the corner and scattered debris across the circuit.
Kobayashi's team-mate Pedro de la Rosa stopped out on track at the exit of Turn 4 in the final 10 minutes of the session with a clutch failure.
Paul di Resta finished his first Formula 1 practice session in an impressive 11th place for Force India - just one place and four tenths of a second behind Liuzzi. The Briton ran in place of the team's regular racer Adrian Sutil and completed 25 laps in the 90 minutes.
There was no repeat of the Bahrain practice absences for the new teams, with all 24 cars completing installation laps in the first 10 minutes of practice.
Though Jarno Trulli was confined to the pits for most of the first half of the session with a differential problem. Then both Lotus drivers had off-track excursions, with Trulli overshooting the penultimate corner and team-mate Heikki Kovalainen spinning at Turn 9. Petrov was another to spin at Turn 9 after climbing the high kerb and shedding some aero parts from his Renault.
Lotus finished the session as the quickest of the new teams, with Trulli and Kovalainen 19th and 20th - both 4.7 seconds slower than the quickest time. Lucas di Grassi was a second further back for Virgin, with HRT drivers Bruno Senna and Karun Chandhok 6.4 and 7.3 seconds shy of Kubica's benchmark.
Timo Glock was sidelined for most of the session with a fluid leak on his Virgin Racing car. He completed just eight laps and finished at the bottom of the timesheet.
News from Formula One in the Formation Lap.
Showing posts with label Kubica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kubica. Show all posts
Friday, 26 March 2010
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Kubica could start Renault testing alone
Renault team boss Eric Boullier says the squad might not sign its second driver before the first tests of its 2010 car at Valencia in early February.
Robert Kubica is currently Renault's only confirmed 2010 driver. The team is set to launch its new R30 on 31 January at the Spanish track prior to the start of testing the following morning, but Boullier has revealed that Kubica could begin testing alone as there is no guarantee that the identity of his partner will have been decided by then.
"It's not decided yet, very frankly," Boullier told AUTOSPORT when asked about Renault's driver plans.
"We are still looking at several drivers available on the market. Two of them are experienced, two of them are rookies. We are now the last established team [without two drivers] and the situation is very different than in July, when you could discuss with everybody.
"So now we have to focus on two things. First, and this is very important, we have to bring serenity to the team and bring the morale back up. Second, we are looking for sponsors. We are waiting to have all these elements in place to take our decision.
"We'd love to take the decision before the test. If not Robert will start the development alone."
Boullier confirmed that Nick Heidfeld, Kubica's former team-mate at BMW Sauber, was among the contenders.
"It would be a lie to say 'no'," he said. "Definitely it's a different question because he has spent so many years with Robert. The question mark is if we want to put them together again or not. But he is on the list.
"Today we have a situation where there are not many drivers available on the market. I speak about drivers with Formula 1 experience and drivers who are rookies but successful enough and graduated enough to get into Formula 1. The key thing is that we do consider driver performance and driver development state."
He reiterated that drivers associated with Renault's new investment partner Gerard Lopez's Gravity organisation - such as Ho-Pin Tung and Jerome D'Ambrosio - would not be given priority.
"Definitely not. Some of my comments have been used in the press against Gravity," said Boullier. "It would be crazy for me to give a privilege to Gravity drivers compared to some others. Being team principal of Renault F1 means that I have to protect the interests of Renault F1, not Gravity."
Boullier also said there was no requirement to sign a French driver for the second seat.
"Nationality is completely open," he said. "It has been policy since many years that Renault and even our partner Total don't intervene with the sporting policy of the team.
"So it's completely up to the team to decide what is best for the team. The driver could be French, but he could be Russian, Chinese, German, Austrian or whatever you want."
He confirmed that a Russian driver was "definitely" a possibility, with GP2 title contender Vitaly Petrov known to be chasing 2010 F1 opportunities.
Robert Kubica is currently Renault's only confirmed 2010 driver. The team is set to launch its new R30 on 31 January at the Spanish track prior to the start of testing the following morning, but Boullier has revealed that Kubica could begin testing alone as there is no guarantee that the identity of his partner will have been decided by then.
"It's not decided yet, very frankly," Boullier told AUTOSPORT when asked about Renault's driver plans.
"We are still looking at several drivers available on the market. Two of them are experienced, two of them are rookies. We are now the last established team [without two drivers] and the situation is very different than in July, when you could discuss with everybody.
"So now we have to focus on two things. First, and this is very important, we have to bring serenity to the team and bring the morale back up. Second, we are looking for sponsors. We are waiting to have all these elements in place to take our decision.
"We'd love to take the decision before the test. If not Robert will start the development alone."
Boullier confirmed that Nick Heidfeld, Kubica's former team-mate at BMW Sauber, was among the contenders.
"It would be a lie to say 'no'," he said. "Definitely it's a different question because he has spent so many years with Robert. The question mark is if we want to put them together again or not. But he is on the list.
"Today we have a situation where there are not many drivers available on the market. I speak about drivers with Formula 1 experience and drivers who are rookies but successful enough and graduated enough to get into Formula 1. The key thing is that we do consider driver performance and driver development state."
He reiterated that drivers associated with Renault's new investment partner Gerard Lopez's Gravity organisation - such as Ho-Pin Tung and Jerome D'Ambrosio - would not be given priority.
"Definitely not. Some of my comments have been used in the press against Gravity," said Boullier. "It would be crazy for me to give a privilege to Gravity drivers compared to some others. Being team principal of Renault F1 means that I have to protect the interests of Renault F1, not Gravity."
Boullier also said there was no requirement to sign a French driver for the second seat.
"Nationality is completely open," he said. "It has been policy since many years that Renault and even our partner Total don't intervene with the sporting policy of the team.
"So it's completely up to the team to decide what is best for the team. The driver could be French, but he could be Russian, Chinese, German, Austrian or whatever you want."
He confirmed that a Russian driver was "definitely" a possibility, with GP2 title contender Vitaly Petrov known to be chasing 2010 F1 opportunities.
Monday, 18 January 2010
Kubica begins work at Renault factory
Robert Kubica began his preparations for the 2010 season by visiting Renault's Enstone factory to try the cockpit of his new car.
The Pole got a seat fitting in a mock-up of this year's R30 car, also meeting up with new team boss Eric Boullier.
"I had been to the factory before when I tested for the team a few years ago, but it was great to return and see how much has changed," said Kubica.
"The site is bigger now and there are more facilities such as the CFD centre, which is very impressive and will play a big role in the development of our car this year.
"When you walk around the factory there is a great atmosphere and everybody seems motivated and up for the fight - just like me!"
Kubica will return to the factory at the end of the month to complete the seat fitting.
"We've only done the first stage in a mock-up chassis as the first R30 isn't ready yet," he said. "So we checked the dimensions and took measurements to make sure I was comfortable in the car. There are some small changes to be made, but no major issues.
"Later this month I'll go back to Enstone to try out the proper chassis and to have my seat made so that we are ready for the first test in Valencia."
He added: "So far things are going really well and the factory has given me a warm welcome. It's still very early days and I need to get to know everybody in the team, but at the moment things are going well. I already have a good relationship with my engineers and we talk on the phone every week as I want to know as much about the new car as possible.
"The only difficulty I have is being patient enough to wait for the first test as it has been a long winter out of the car. Valencia cannot come soon enough!"
The Pole got a seat fitting in a mock-up of this year's R30 car, also meeting up with new team boss Eric Boullier.
"I had been to the factory before when I tested for the team a few years ago, but it was great to return and see how much has changed," said Kubica.
"The site is bigger now and there are more facilities such as the CFD centre, which is very impressive and will play a big role in the development of our car this year.
"When you walk around the factory there is a great atmosphere and everybody seems motivated and up for the fight - just like me!"
Kubica will return to the factory at the end of the month to complete the seat fitting.
"We've only done the first stage in a mock-up chassis as the first R30 isn't ready yet," he said. "So we checked the dimensions and took measurements to make sure I was comfortable in the car. There are some small changes to be made, but no major issues.
"Later this month I'll go back to Enstone to try out the proper chassis and to have my seat made so that we are ready for the first test in Valencia."
He added: "So far things are going really well and the factory has given me a warm welcome. It's still very early days and I need to get to know everybody in the team, but at the moment things are going well. I already have a good relationship with my engineers and we talk on the phone every week as I want to know as much about the new car as possible.
"The only difficulty I have is being patient enough to wait for the first test as it has been a long winter out of the car. Valencia cannot come soon enough!"
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Kubica still ruing Friday's problems
Robert Kubica was pleased with his effort in qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but the Pole was still lamenting his lack of running in Friday practice.
"Unfortunately I missed yesterday's second free practice session," said the BMW Sauber driver, who suffered an engine failure after just 13 laps in yesterday's second practice.
"As a result I had no experience of the track conditions at this time of day. The conditions were completely different compared to the third free practice session.
"The lower temperatures had quite a big effect on the car's balance. In the end qualifying in seventh is quite okay and I am optimistic that we can fight for points tomorrow."
Team-mate Nick Heidfeld was also satisfied after qualifying in eighth position, although he felt he could have gone faster had he not found traffic in his final run.
"I think my eighth position is alright," said Heidfeld. "On the last lap there was a small chance to improve, but I had traffic with Mark Webber in front of me, and anyway there is no guarantee this lap would have been faster.
"If I take the fuel load into account, I'm happy with my grid position although I only really know the fuel load for our cars. The tyres seem to last here remarkably well, which means it could pay off if you stay out for longer.
"The light from the setting sun was a bit brighter than yesterday, but the circuit is built in such a way that you have to deal with it in only one corner, which anyway is flat. For our last race tomorrow I hope for all of us we can achieve a good result with points for both cars."
"Unfortunately I missed yesterday's second free practice session," said the BMW Sauber driver, who suffered an engine failure after just 13 laps in yesterday's second practice.
"As a result I had no experience of the track conditions at this time of day. The conditions were completely different compared to the third free practice session.
"The lower temperatures had quite a big effect on the car's balance. In the end qualifying in seventh is quite okay and I am optimistic that we can fight for points tomorrow."
Team-mate Nick Heidfeld was also satisfied after qualifying in eighth position, although he felt he could have gone faster had he not found traffic in his final run.
"I think my eighth position is alright," said Heidfeld. "On the last lap there was a small chance to improve, but I had traffic with Mark Webber in front of me, and anyway there is no guarantee this lap would have been faster.
"If I take the fuel load into account, I'm happy with my grid position although I only really know the fuel load for our cars. The tyres seem to last here remarkably well, which means it could pay off if you stay out for longer.
"The light from the setting sun was a bit brighter than yesterday, but the circuit is built in such a way that you have to deal with it in only one corner, which anyway is flat. For our last race tomorrow I hope for all of us we can achieve a good result with points for both cars."
Thursday, 29 October 2009
Q and A with Robert Kubica
AUTOSPORT catches up with Robert Kubica ahead of his final race with the BMW Sauber team, before he begins life as a Renault driver.
Q. There's rumours that Renault want to offload its team, what is your information on that?
Robert Kubica: As you say, it's a rumour, and this is my comment. You say it's a rumour and I will not comment on a rumour. I have never done it in the past and there are many rumours going around and that's how it is. We will see in the future. We will see who was right, and that's how it is.
Q. Can you sum up the season for you?
RK: I think it has been a difficult season. A season with a lot of difficulties, I think not only one. The first one was of course the performance of the car. Then another one was the KERS, no KERS situation. First pushing with the KERS car and to then switch completely to a non-KERS car. And then another one was about BMW not continuing in F1. So for sure many difficult moments.
From a driving point of view it was also not an easy season. I think I did a few races with very good performance, like in Australia or Malaysia. If you review the Australia race and see where we were with the car I think it was not so bad, or even the last race in Brazil. When you have a car to fight for P12 in the middle of the season it's difficult to make an impression. The difficulties to the season started from trying to really concentrate on KERS, which didn't work out for us.
Q. You are one of the drivers who has his future sorted out for next season, how much of a help is that in preparing?
RK: Apparently not (laughter). I think today, when everything in F1 is quite uncertain with many questions marks on drivers and teams, I think I'm very happy I'm quite well placed for the future with Renault. I'm sleeping well, so that's good. And I'm looking forward to the new challenge. For sure it will be a big challenge because I think Renault is very motivated to come back, to put the negative moments behind and that's why I think we have a good chance to do well next year.
It will be much better for me to test in two weeks' time and know where I'm standing. Otherwise you'd be all winter just guessing and believing the numbers and just hoping the numbers will be good. As I said, there's huge motivation in the team I'm joining and I'm motivated very much for the new challenge, so I think it should be okay.
Q. What are your impressions of the new circuit?
RK: I think it's a different style of circuit. If we talk just about the circuit it's difficult to say because I have not driven it, but it looks interesting, although I think there are two different parts. What is interesting is the the practically free long straightlines where you will reach 300 or over or just under and then heavy breaking. And then you go on the other part with low-speed corners so you have to try to have downforce but also a good top speed. Around the circuit is nice, but to be honest, I don't know what's going on around. Everything is new so it's looking good.
Q. Do you think this is going to become one of the "real" tracks?
RK: I think real tracks are where you pay for your mistakes. I haven't driven here so I cannot say. I'm a big fan of street circuits so you can imagine the more run-off area you give me, the less I like it. But they are safer, so you have to find the best balance. Everything is nice until there's accidents. Once there's an accident you prefer to have more run-off area, so that's why I'm saying the balance is the most important thing.
Q. What is your feeling knowing that your current team may not be in F1 next year?
RK: For sure I'm concentrating on the race, but knowing that the situation for many people in the team... That's why I say I'm very happy to be well placed for the future, because I understand that most of the people their future is still uncertain. For sure it's not nice for them and not nice for me, because I have worked with them for four years with the same people, so your relationship gets closer.
You'd like to see them on the grid. I hope we will see them on the grid. Maybe not all of them because even if the Sauber team continues there will be not as many people as we have now. But I hope they will continue and I hope all the people working at BMW Sauber they will get a job they like.
Q. What would you like Jean Todt to do for F1 as FIA president?
RK: To be honest, I don't know exactly what's the president's job for Formula 1, so it's difficult to talk about something I don't know. I believe he will do a good job for general motorsport, because we are talking here about Formula 1, but motorsport is not only Formula 1. Motorsport is much bigger than Formula 1, and a lot of people is this paddock are forgetting the lower categories. But I believe he will do a good job.
Q. You are a big rally fan. Sebastien Loeb was hoping to race here, but it wasn't possible. Would you like to see him in F1?
RK: First of all congratulations for another world championship for him. It was a close battle. I think it would not be easy for him. I think it would be a very nice challenge, and a nice opportunity, because if I was asked to do the opposite I would enjoy it. Of course I wouldn't go there to compete at the top.
He knew he would not compete to win, that's for sure. His approach would be the same as if I do rallying: just enjoy it, take it as a nice challenge and try to do your best, but without any targets. I believe he would struggle because racing is different than rallying, but it'd be the same if an F1 driver goes to rallying.
Q. There's rumours that Renault want to offload its team, what is your information on that?
Robert Kubica: As you say, it's a rumour, and this is my comment. You say it's a rumour and I will not comment on a rumour. I have never done it in the past and there are many rumours going around and that's how it is. We will see in the future. We will see who was right, and that's how it is.
Q. Can you sum up the season for you?
RK: I think it has been a difficult season. A season with a lot of difficulties, I think not only one. The first one was of course the performance of the car. Then another one was the KERS, no KERS situation. First pushing with the KERS car and to then switch completely to a non-KERS car. And then another one was about BMW not continuing in F1. So for sure many difficult moments.
From a driving point of view it was also not an easy season. I think I did a few races with very good performance, like in Australia or Malaysia. If you review the Australia race and see where we were with the car I think it was not so bad, or even the last race in Brazil. When you have a car to fight for P12 in the middle of the season it's difficult to make an impression. The difficulties to the season started from trying to really concentrate on KERS, which didn't work out for us.
Q. You are one of the drivers who has his future sorted out for next season, how much of a help is that in preparing?
RK: Apparently not (laughter). I think today, when everything in F1 is quite uncertain with many questions marks on drivers and teams, I think I'm very happy I'm quite well placed for the future with Renault. I'm sleeping well, so that's good. And I'm looking forward to the new challenge. For sure it will be a big challenge because I think Renault is very motivated to come back, to put the negative moments behind and that's why I think we have a good chance to do well next year.
It will be much better for me to test in two weeks' time and know where I'm standing. Otherwise you'd be all winter just guessing and believing the numbers and just hoping the numbers will be good. As I said, there's huge motivation in the team I'm joining and I'm motivated very much for the new challenge, so I think it should be okay.
Q. What are your impressions of the new circuit?
RK: I think it's a different style of circuit. If we talk just about the circuit it's difficult to say because I have not driven it, but it looks interesting, although I think there are two different parts. What is interesting is the the practically free long straightlines where you will reach 300 or over or just under and then heavy breaking. And then you go on the other part with low-speed corners so you have to try to have downforce but also a good top speed. Around the circuit is nice, but to be honest, I don't know what's going on around. Everything is new so it's looking good.
Q. Do you think this is going to become one of the "real" tracks?
RK: I think real tracks are where you pay for your mistakes. I haven't driven here so I cannot say. I'm a big fan of street circuits so you can imagine the more run-off area you give me, the less I like it. But they are safer, so you have to find the best balance. Everything is nice until there's accidents. Once there's an accident you prefer to have more run-off area, so that's why I'm saying the balance is the most important thing.
Q. What is your feeling knowing that your current team may not be in F1 next year?
RK: For sure I'm concentrating on the race, but knowing that the situation for many people in the team... That's why I say I'm very happy to be well placed for the future, because I understand that most of the people their future is still uncertain. For sure it's not nice for them and not nice for me, because I have worked with them for four years with the same people, so your relationship gets closer.
You'd like to see them on the grid. I hope we will see them on the grid. Maybe not all of them because even if the Sauber team continues there will be not as many people as we have now. But I hope they will continue and I hope all the people working at BMW Sauber they will get a job they like.
Q. What would you like Jean Todt to do for F1 as FIA president?
RK: To be honest, I don't know exactly what's the president's job for Formula 1, so it's difficult to talk about something I don't know. I believe he will do a good job for general motorsport, because we are talking here about Formula 1, but motorsport is not only Formula 1. Motorsport is much bigger than Formula 1, and a lot of people is this paddock are forgetting the lower categories. But I believe he will do a good job.
Q. You are a big rally fan. Sebastien Loeb was hoping to race here, but it wasn't possible. Would you like to see him in F1?
RK: First of all congratulations for another world championship for him. It was a close battle. I think it would not be easy for him. I think it would be a very nice challenge, and a nice opportunity, because if I was asked to do the opposite I would enjoy it. Of course I wouldn't go there to compete at the top.
He knew he would not compete to win, that's for sure. His approach would be the same as if I do rallying: just enjoy it, take it as a nice challenge and try to do your best, but without any targets. I believe he would struggle because racing is different than rallying, but it'd be the same if an F1 driver goes to rallying.
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