Robert Kubica says BMW Sauber are happy with their pace after he finished second in the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Best ever result for young Pole
Robert Kubica says BMW Sauber should be happy with their race pace after he scored a second-place finish at the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Following an eventful start the Pole enjoyed an ultimately trouble-free afternoon to score the German team a second consecutive podium finish.
Team-mate Nick Heidfeld finished second last time out in Australia - a race from which Kubica retired.
However, the 23-year-old was delighted to bounce back with a result which bettered his previous best of third at the 2006 Italian Grand Prix.
"I think it is a fantastic result for the team," said Kubica, who eventually finished 20 seconds behind race winner Kimi Raikkonen.
"Second place in a grand prix in a row. So after the unlucky Australian Grand Prix to finally get a podium after Monza 2006...I'm so happy for myself and the team."
Poor start
Kubica admitted his start from fifth on the grid was poor, but explained that he recovered ground when Jarno Trulli and Heidfeld ran wide at the exit of the first corner.
He continued: "I didn't have a good start with some wheelspin which compromised all the acceleration, so it was quite close with Trulli and Nick.
"I nearly lost the car under braking on the first corner but they touched and I managed to overtake them.
"Then I tried to keep a consistent pace. We knew we could not match Ferrari but we kept pushing."
Hinting that BMW Sauber were the equal of McLaren-Mercedes during the race, Kubica added that his lead over the latter's Heikki Kovalainen during the closing laps was such that he could look after his engine.
He added: "Then when I saw after the second pitstop Heikki being 17 seconds behind me we decided to keep down the revs and keep the engine fresh for the next race.
"I didn't feel all well. I was a bit sick and it was hard to keep concentration. So I was cruising to the end."
Lacking
Nevertheless, Kubica that BMW Sauber are still lacking a little in terms of straightline speed.
"First of all I think we have to be happy with our pace already," he said. "Starting the season it didn't look so well, and it was difficult to say where we were.
"In top speed we are lacking a bit, it makes for tough races because we have to push hard in the corners.
"On the straight we are losing a bit of gap, so in the long distance races it is not easy with tyre degradation."
