The final year of collaboration between German engine giant BMW and Formula One team, WilliamsF1, was far from being their most successful, however they did have their moments such as Nick Heidfeld’s podium placed finish in just the second round. The following is a review of the first third of the 2005 Formula One championship season, from Australia to Monaco, through the eyes of BMW….

Australian GP.

On 31st January 2005 in Valencia, the FW27 was rolled out and Nick Heidfeld presented as the second team driver alongside Mark Webber. Some sobering test results ensued for the car, which had undergone significant aerodynamic modifications to meet the new regulations. At the curtain-raiser in Melbourne, more new rules came into play: both qualifying and the race had to be run on the same set of tyres, the aggregate times over two flying laps (Saturday and Sunday) would determine the grid line-up, and the BMW P84/5 engines had to last for two GP weekends.

The first qualifying session took place on a wet track, revealing little in terms of the competitive situation. Webber came third and Heidfeld seventh after a mistake. Second qualifying left things as they were. Although Webber was pleased with his best time, even on a dry track it was impossible to make up for the previous day’s times. In the race, Webber lost ground at the start and finished fifth after an otherwise fault-free performance. Heidfeld had managed to move up into fifth at the start, but with 15 laps to go a collision with Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) meant the end of the race for him. But the first race had proved better than expected.

Malaysian GP.

The second race of the season bestowed the first podium place. In wilting humidity and 37 degrees Celsius in the shade, Heidfeld managed to claw his way from tenth on the grid to a third-placed finish. Despite a faulty drinking bottle, he was as fit at the end of the race as if he had been out on a leisurely spin, and was roundly complimented on his outstanding passing manoeuvres. Webber, who had started from fourth on the grid, might have made it onto the podium had he not retired on lap 37 of 56 after coming into contact with Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault). On lap 40, Heidfeld recorded the second-fastest lap of the entire field. One thing was now clear: not Ferrari, but Renault was the team to beat.

Bahrain GP

Three points were the lean pickings from the Arabian desert. Webber finished in sixth place while Heidfeld retired on lap 26 out of 57 in the hottest F1 race for a decade (42 °C) with a blown engine. He was the only driver to compete with an engine that had already endured the hot Malaysian GP. There were seven retirements in all. After a strong qualifying performance – Heidfeld was fourth on the grid, Webber fifth – the outcome of the race was disappointing. Though Webber’s engine lasted the distance, his BMW P84/5 was also running at its thermal limits and could not be spun up to its full revs. It meant neither driver had a genuine chance to mount an attack. While in third place, Webber spun halfway through the race to lose two more positions. As had been the case in Malaysia, new aerodynamic components arrived at the circuit over the weekend.

San Marino GP

After two race-free weekends, the FW27 turned up at Imola with yet more aerodynamic modifications. Webber qualified fourth on the grid and Heidfeld took the number eight slot. Once again their starts misfired and they forfeited two positions each. After Raikkonen’s retirement from the race, Alonso and Button formed the leading pair. Trulli followed after a considerable gap – and held up the rest of the pack, first and foremost Webber, who was in fourth place ahead of the initial pit stops. Bringing up the rear of this huddle was Heidfeld in ninth. After the refuelling stops Webber was still stuck behind Trulli. A passing attempt failed and cost him another place. Meanwhile, back in the pit lane Heidfeld lost a position to Ralf Schumacher, who was later handed a 25-second penalty for his rash manoeuvre.

In the European curtainraiser, which delivered some exhilarating racing among the front-runners with Michael Schumacher and Alonso staging a dramatic battle between the “King” and the “Crown Prince”, the BMW WilliamsF1 Team drivers merely played bit parts. This was down to bad starts, heavy traffic and underperforming cars. Heidfeld and Webber crossed the finish line in ninth and tenth places respectively. As a result of Schumacher’s penalty and the disqualification of both BAR Honda drivers, they retrospectively moved up into sixth and seventh places.

Spanish GP

The Spaniards paid tribute to the achievements of their compatriot with packed terraces. The Renault driver finished as runner-up to Raikkonen, whose performance demonstrated that in a trouble-free race, the McLaren-Mercedes was the most powerful car in the field. The BMW WilliamsF1 Team had to settle for three points in Barcelona. Thursday’s inspection of Heidfeld’s engine, which ordinarily would have had to contest its second GP, revealed a damaged exhaust valve. The fresh BMW P84/5 destined for Webber was lined up with the same valves. These parts could have led to an early end to the race, and so two engines with modified specifications were immediately assembled in Munich. Heidfeld and Webber emerged from the pit garage for Saturday’s training with fresh power units on board. As a result, Webber had to forgo Friday’s practice and Heidfeld was relegated to the back of the grid.

Webber qualified for second place on the grid. Along with the new engines, new aerodynamic parts were flown in on Friday and Saturday. Webber’s good qualifying performance was partly down to a light fuel load: the team planned to give him a boost with a short first stint. But a bad start on the dirty side of the track scotched that plan and Webber got stuck in traffic. At the first pit stop the team switched strategy and filled his FW27 tank up so that he would only have to come in for one more refuelling stop. Webber had already lost pace with the leaders, and now the heavy fuel load was taking its toll on the tyres. He finished the race in sixth place. In the dense traffic, Heidfeld did not make it beyond tenth.

GP Monaco

In the most important race of the year, the team put up a valiant fight to gain two podium places. After some brilliant overtaking manoeuvres, Heidfeld finished second and Webber came third. At the sixth GP of the season it seemed they had suddenly cracked it. Webber had qualified third on the grid, but made a slow getaway. Heidfeld, meanwhile, launched into the race so fast from sixth place that he almost slammed into Webber. For 25 laps the two of them, driving in fourth and fifth positions, were unable to get past Trulli on Monaco’s narrow circuit. Then a Minardi blocked the road to half a dozen drivers. While cars were manoeuvring to get past, the safety car was called out. The team immediately brought both drivers back to the pits for an early stop. After that, Webber and Heidfeld were stuck behind Alonso.

In order to get them out of the traffic jam, the second pit stops were brought forward. Heidfeld was subsequently in third place in front of Webber and was closing the gap to Alonso, who was struggling with worn tyres. On lap 71, Heidfeld risked a spirited attack ahead of the chicane after the Monaco Tunnel and managed to overpower Alonso. Three laps later, Webber repeated the manoeuvre at the same spot. This time the team had got everything right with their choice of hard tyres and smart tactics.

To be continued…..