Kubica: No Sepang podium

BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica will be happy with fifth place at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica has said that it is unrealistic for the team to challenge for a podium position at next weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix.

The Polish driver's assertion comes despite him being fastest on the opening day of testing for the race at the Sepang circuit.

Kubica set a fastest lap of one minute 36.187 seconds around the 3.464-mile circuit, his time enabling him to outpace Australian GP winner Kimi Raikkonen.

The Finn's Ferrari was just over a tenth of a second behind Kubica; nevertheless, the latter believes that, when the race itself comes around, BMW Sauber can only mount a credible challenge against McLaren Mercedes.

"It looks like Ferrari is on a completely different planet," Kubica claimed, when asked about BMW Sauber's main rivals.

"I think McLaren and Ferrari...especially Ferrari is not our top target. We have to be realistic. If I can finish top five I will be happy."

Kubica was running fourth, ahead of team-mate Nick Heidfeld, in Melbourne before his race ended after 36 laps with a gearbox problem.

And the 22-year-old also admitted that, in spite of the presence of modifications in Malaysia designed to overcome the problem, progress has yet to be made.

"We have to solve the problem this week. But we already faced a small problem this morning. There was some gearbox problem," he admitted.

Williams driver Alex Wurz was third quickest overall, with Honda's Rubens Barrichello showing improved pace for the team after a disastrous showing in Albert Park with the fourth fastest time.

McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa was fifth, ahead of Toyota tester Franck Montagny, with Super Aguri's Takuma Sato seventh.

Red Bull's David Coulthard was eighth, ahead of Renault's Nelson Piquet Jr. and Toro Rosso's Scott Speed.

Unofficial times:

1 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 1m36.187 92 laps
2 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1m36.302 55     
3 Alex Wurz WilliamsF1 1m36.334 90    
4 Rubens Barrichello Honda Racing 1m36.826 83    
5 Pedro de la Rosa McLaren Mercedes 1m37.106 60    
6 Franck Montagny Toyota 1m37.267 74    
7 Takuma Sato Super Aguri 1m37.389 72    
8 David Coulthard Red Bull Racing 1m37.609 84    
9 Nelson Piquet Jr Renault 1m38.199 33    
10 Scott Speed Toro Rosso 1m38.503 69 

Times courtesy of McLaren Mercedes