Source: ITV Sport
BMW Sauber has launched the new F1.09 which it hopes will bring it this year's world championship.
According to the year-by-year targets that the company set out when it established a works Formula 1 team, 2009 is the season when BMW should become a fully-fledged title contender.
Given that Robert Kubica had an outside shot at last year's crown (and felt he could have taken on McLaren and Ferrari had BMW shared his faith in their capabilities), BMW should be well-placed to achieve its goals this season - especially given the head-start the team got on the 2009 regulations.
BMW is believed to be further advanced with its Kinetic Energy Recovery System than any other team, and has controversially insisted that the devices are kept amid the current round of cost-cutting – to the chagrin of other squads keen to avoid the extra expense KERS creates.
The German squad was also the first to run a full 2009-specification wing package in testing last winter, although its definitive wing design was not unveiled until this morning's roll-out at Valencia.
"We have set ourselves the task of further improving our performance relative to the rest of the field," said team boss Mario Theissen.
"The 1-2 in Canada and a total of 11 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."
The team will now commence testing with the new car at the Spanish circuit.
Kubica was charged with giving the F1.09 its shakedown
Heidfeld isn't bothered that he has no wins to his name, and aims to change that this year
BMW Sauber has launched the new F1.09 which it hopes will bring it this year's world championship.
According to the year-by-year targets that the company set out when it established a works Formula 1 team, 2009 is the season when BMW should become a fully-fledged title contender.
Given that Robert Kubica had an outside shot at last year's crown (and felt he could have taken on McLaren and Ferrari had BMW shared his faith in their capabilities), BMW should be well-placed to achieve its goals this season - especially given the head-start the team got on the 2009 regulations.
BMW is believed to be further advanced with its Kinetic Energy Recovery System than any other team, and has controversially insisted that the devices are kept amid the current round of cost-cutting – to the chagrin of other squads keen to avoid the extra expense KERS creates.
The German squad was also the first to run a full 2009-specification wing package in testing last winter, although its definitive wing design was not unveiled until this morning's roll-out at Valencia.
"We have set ourselves the task of further improving our performance relative to the rest of the field," said team boss Mario Theissen.
"The 1-2 in Canada and a total of 11 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."
The team will now commence testing with the new car at the Spanish circuit.
Kubica was charged with giving the F1.09 its shakedown
Heidfeld isn't bothered that he has no wins to his name, and aims to change that this year
