Kubica - We're struggling

Championship leader bemoans lack of grip

Last updated: 21st June 2008

robert kubica bmw sauber 21/6/2008

Kubica: struggling

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Robert Kubica's stint at the head of Driver's Championship may be a brief one if BMW Sauber's poor showing in qualifying for the French Grand Prix was anything to go by.

The Pole, who scored both his and the team's first grand prix victory last time out in Canada, could only manage the seventh fastest time in qualifying at Magny-Cours, his worst performance of the season.

However, because of grid penalties incurred by McLaren Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen, Kubica has been elevated to fifth.

Nevertheless, with Kimi Raikkonen leading Felipe Massa in an all-Ferrari front-row, Kubica could well be overtaken at the top of the standings depending on how Sunday's race unfolds.

BMW Sauber have failed to shine so far this weekend at the Circuit de Nevers, with Kubica admitting: "It looks like we are having a difficult weekend.

"After yesterday's practice sessions I was expecting us to struggle, and so it has proved.

"The balance of the car is not how I want it to be, and it has poor overall grip.

"The gap to the top teams appears to have stayed the same, and at the same time the other teams have obviously made a big step forward.

"My goal now is to score as many points as possible in the race, which certainly will not be easy."

The other teams Kubica is referring to are Renault and Toyota as Fernando Alonso starts third and Jarno Trulli fourth, with Red Bull duo Mark Webber and David Coulthard directly behind him on the grid.

Meanwhile, just two weekends after backing up his team-mate in a BMW Sauber one-two finish in Montreal, Nick Heidfeld starts 11th after similarly struggling with grip.

Kubica currently leads Massa and Hamilton by four points in the standings, with Raikkonen a further three points behind.