BMW Sauber team boss Mario Theissen has said Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld "bear no blame" for the team's dismal season.
Team boss praises "very professional" reaction to difficult season
BMW Sauber team boss Mario Theissen has said drivers Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld "bear no blame" for the team's dismal season.
Much was expected of the Swiss-German outfit this year after a stellar 2008 season, which brought a breakthrough race win and third place in the Constructors' Championship.
However, they have failed to deliver thus far during 2009, with Kubica and Heidfeld having scored just eight points between them as they struggle with the team's F1.09 chassis.
Thiessen, though, has insisted the team's backward step in no way reflects the ability of either driver and said both were striving to help improve the situation.
"The drivers bear no blame here," he told the team's official website.
"If we could provide them with a car, with which they could compete at the front of the field, then they would be doing just that. They have proven this often enough in the past
"Both Nick and Robert have handled the situation in a very professional manner.
"They are working intensively together with the engineers, discussing ways of solving the problems and, like everyone else in the team, are striving to finally get the team back to the top of the sport."
Sense
With the season having just passed its halfway point, Theissen also denied that BMW Sauber will cut their losses and concentrate instead on next year's car.
"We are already working on a new (2010) car, but it makes absolutely no sense to stop developing this car," he explained.
"Firstly, there are no dramatic changes to the regulations regarding aerodynamics. This means that everything we learn from what is still a new concept can be carried over to next year.
"Secondly, there is a ban on testing.
"If we stop developing the car in order to concentrate on the new one, then we can only develop behind closed doors. We would miss out on the opportunity to drive on the track.
"For that reason, it makes sense to continue to further develop this car as much as possible. The race weekends are our only test, so we must use these opportunities."
