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Interview with BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen |
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Tuesday, 01 April 2008 |
“Taking a bold concept leap has paid off”
How do you review the situation after the first two races of the season?
BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen: “Naturally we’re extremely
pleased with the way the season has started off for us. Two second
places by Nick and Robert in Melbourne and Sepang, Robert on the front
row of the grid in Australia, Nick claiming the fastest race lap in
Malaysia, plus 11 points in one race and 19 in the championship –
that’s an outstanding achievement and a strong basis for the coming
races.
It demonstrates we have been making steady progress since the roll-out
in mid-January. I wasn’t just gratified by our good results, but above
all by the performance and pace we managed in both races.”
The BMW Sauber F1.08 didn’t come up to expectations in the first tests. How did the engineers deal with that?
Theissen: “It was the first real acid test for our young team.
Since the first outing in Valencia the day after the launch, we refused
to be diverted at any stage and systematically continued along our
planned path. Measured data and driver feedback were compared, causes
analysed and a whole package of measures adopted – with success. In the
weeks following the launch of the F1.08, we not only brought the car up
to speed but also learnt a great deal in the process. In retrospect
these were extremely productive and motivating weeks. Willy Rampf and
the entire team deserve a huge compliment for never once losing sight
of the goal even under extreme pressure.”
You mentioned a package of measures. What precise modifications have been made to the car?
Theissen: “During the first tests we very quickly established that
the F1.08 is a far more complex car than its predecessor. It wasn’t a
case of an individual component in the car not working. The key factor
was that, in the first tests, individual elements weren’t interacting
with each other perfectly. We rectified that step by step. It was a
matter of fine-tuning the overall package, which we managed to improve
through dozens of minor alterations. On the aero front we optimised the
interplay of the front wing, deflectors and underbody, and in terms of
mechanics, for example, we modified the front suspension slightly.
These are all changes you can’t see but which all add up to a
significant improvement in performance. And, of course, with each test
we were able to gather new data that now enables us to find the right
set-up for varying conditions.”
So will you be pitching your season target higher now?
Theissen: “There’s no call for that really. Our goal is to close
the gap to the leaders and win our first race. That’s a fairly
ambitious goal and we’re sticking to it. In the first two races we
managed to open up the two-way battle. We were faster than one of the
two top teams on each occasion. But one shouldn’t draw any premature
conclusions. We’re still not on a par with Ferrari and
McLaren-Mercedes. However, the latest results are certainly a great
incentive for everyone. The clear message to the workforce is: we can
make it.”
How much potential remains inside the BMW Sauber F1.08?
Theissen: “We’ve still got several arrows in our quiver and
certainly haven’t exhausted our entire potential yet. The next major
step is planned for the European curtain-raiser in Barcelona. For us
one thing is clear: risking a major concept leap in the winter has paid
off. Now it’s up to us to systematically continue along the path we’ve
embarked on.”
How do you rate the performance of your two drivers?
Theissen: “Both of them have delivered what we expect of them. Not
just in the two races, but prior to that during the important testing
work over the winter. Both of them have prepared single-mindedly for
the new season. And both of them have got what it takes to claim the
first win for our team. They also know that it takes more than just a
few fast laps. The drivers are leaders within the team and have a huge
impact on the team spirit and the ongoing development of the car. Both
of them are bringing this awareness into play, and I am very happy with
the results so far.”
How did you fare with the standard electronics in the first two races of the season?
Theissen: “There was the occasional hiccup, but that was down to
the fact that the application had not yet been perfected and was
unrelated to the basic software. There were no malfunctions that might
have threatened to end the race or compromise driver safety.”
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