BMW Sauber launch F1.09

Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld unveiled the new BMW Sauber F1.09 in Valencia this morning.

“We have set ourselves the task of further improving our performance relative to the rest of the field," stated BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen. "The One-Two in Canada and a total of eleven podium finishes in 2008 set an exacting standard. In 2009 we are looking to maintain our first-class reliability record while at the same time enhancing our performance levels so that we can be at the front of the pack on a consistent basis. We are aware that we are aiming extremely high. This is the final step in our development, and that’s generally the hardest one to take.”

"We communicated our target 2009 four years ago," said Theissen in a press conference straight after the unveiling of the F1.09. "We set out a plan aiming at the first points in 2006, the first podium in 2007, to win in 2008, and we then stated that we want to fight for the championship from this year onwards.

"So far all targets have been met, so there is no reason to abandon the final and most important target. We want to fight for the title with the big two other teams and whoever else is up there."

"It was clear to us that the opportunity to test before the end of the year was very valuable," he explained. "Meanwhile, the change to the sporting regulations placed a severe restriction on testing. We were very happy with the work with it.".

"We have seen the end of the big spending race in 2008, it is a real turning point," he said. "We had foreseen that in a way when we established the structure of the new team a few years ago.

"We never wanted to become the biggest spending team. We tried to maintain the efficiency of the original Sauber team. That helps us in the current situation. We are well prepared."


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