BMW Sauber F1 Team driver Nick Heidfeld was able to complete the normal Friday programme with tyre evaluation and set-up work on the spectacular new YAS Marina Circuit. However, his team mate Robert Kubica didn’t have the opportunity to drive in the dark under floodlights as, due to an engine failure, he retired just before sunset in the second free practice session.

Despite the engine failures earlier this season, the team decided not to go for a ninth power unit to avoid the consequent grid penalty. As a result Kubica had to run on the season’s last Friday an engine with a mileage way over 2000 kilometres. The team were aware of the risk.

“The track is quite interesting, although there are not a lot of high speed corners and most are quite short,” Kubica said. “The final sector of the track reminds me of Singapore.   We were just starting to work on the set-up and the tyre evaluation in the second free practice session when I had an engine failure. Now the track conditions are improving with each lap, this is a big loss and I lost nearly one hour of valuable track time.”

At noon the BMW Sauber F1 Team lined up for its farewell team picture with the pit board message “Thank you & Goodbye“. Kubica is driving in Abu Dhabi with a special helmet which carries the message “Many Thanks to BMW Sauber F1 Team.”