After another impressive performance in Malaysia, Mario Theissen is confident BMW Sauber have the pace to win this season.
BMW motorsport boss upbeat after two successive second places
After another impressive performance in Malaysia, Mario Theissen is confident BMW-Sauber have the pace to win a grand prix this season.
Robert Kubica finished second in Sunday's race at Sepang, claiming the team's second podium finish in as many races after team-mate Nick Heidfeld finished runner-up the previous weekend in Australia.
Kubica's podium was yet another sign that BMW-Sauber are closing in on frontrunners Ferrari and McLaren-Mercedes, with Theissen now reckoning it to be only a matter of time before they secure a breakthrough win.
"Well, we have set two targets for this year," BMW's motorsport director told
autosport.com.
"One was to turn the battle of two in front of us into a battle of three. And I think it looks like we are, at least in the two races so far, able to do that.
"The other target is to win our first race during the season. I am confident we can do that."
Encouraged
Theissen was very encouraged by the team's lap times in Malaysia, where Heidfeld clocked the fastest lap on his way to finishing sixth - the German's race compromised after touching wheels with Toyota's Jarno Trulli at the first corner.
Meanwhile, starting one place behind Heidfeld in fifth place on the grid, Kubica looked comfortable behind race winner Kimi Raikkonen.
"I am pleased not just with the result, but also with the performance. Robert was able to settle behind the Ferraris right away after the start, and it was really good to see him doing so well," Theissen added.
"Nick was unlucky at the first corner, as he touched with Trulli. Both cars went wide, so several cars could slip by inside.
"They lost a lot of positions but he was able to move back up to sixth, doing the fastest lap at the end of the race and pulling off an overtaking manoeuvre that was I think the best one of the race."
