For the sixth time in total and the third time in a row, the BMW Sauber F1 Team qualified with both cars in the top ten. German racer Nick Heidfeld was eighth in qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix this afternoon when wet and slippery conditions dominated the hour long session. Nick is very pleased with the result, especially as he didn’t think they would make it to the top ten….

Eighth position is a good result. Before the qualifying I didn’t really believe we would make it into the top ten here. But then it went very well,” he said. “The weather was good for us because the Michelin tyres are an advantage in the rain. In the second and quickest qualifying segment I was fourth, therefore, I was hoping for more in the final session. However, then the track was drying more and more and this didn’t help our car. The important fact is we made it with both cars into the top ten and Toyota, our nearest competitor in the constructors’ championship, is a long way behind.”

Meanwhile, teammate Robert Kubica, in just his fourth Grand Prix and his first time here at the Shanghai circuit, finished ninth, right behind Heidfeld, making it four from four that he ahs qualifying inside the top ten, a very pleasing result for the rookie racer….

”For me this is the fourth time in four Grands Prix in the top ten. It was a good qualifying, especially as we had a small problem on the car this morning, so I couldn’t run and my experience at this track is several laps yesterday,” he explained. “The conditions were not easy and, as they were changing, it was difficult to get the right line. However, I think it is not bad for my first time here. We can’t realistically expect another podium tomorrow, but we will just have to wait and see what the conditions are like and at least hope to finish in the points.”

“We are happy about this qualifying result,” added Mario Theissen. “For the sixth time this year and the third consecutive race both drivers have been in third qualifying. Of course the qualifying was influenced by the weather and, therefore, the tyre strategy. Our team made the right decisions in this respect as well. We believe from grid positions eight and nine we have good chances in the race.”

“This performance today underlines the positive results from the recent races, and on top of that we have been in the top ten in the wet,” added Willy Rampf. “We found a good set up compromise for these conditions, and perhaps the conditions in the race tomorrow might be similar to today. We can be optimistic for the race when we consider our strategy from eighth and ninth on the grid.”