Has BMW been sandbagging? | FerrariChat

Has BMW been sandbagging?

Discussion in 'F1' started by tifosi12, Mar 15, 2008.

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  1. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Oct 3, 2002
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    Andreas
    All winter testing long BMW had no stellar testing times. There was a lot of trouble with cars that stopped on the track etc.

    I often read the news from Switzerland and the reports were always suspiciously ambigious: They weren't really condemning BMW for having built a crap car, but they weren't enthusiastic either. I thought it was bias for the home team and that the truth was that the BMW was crap. Well, the qualifying performance in Melbourne spoke a different story and now I start to wonder whether this was all just sandbagging and BMW is the new black horse.

    I for one would wish them the best of luck and hope they get some podiums and their first victory.
     
  2. peter5

    peter5 Formula Junior

    Aug 13, 2005
    519
    NoVa
    I hope so - it would be a great season if Ferrari get their reliability in order. I still would have preferred to see FA in a BMW though, because I think the chances of the Renault being any factor this season are slim. Regardless, RK was more than respectable in qualifying - Massa will have a hard time getting around HK.

    My opinion: Hamilton walks away with this one while Kubica is more focused on holding Kovalainen off. I think Kimi ends up no better than 8th. Massa ends up 3rd.

    Peter
     
  3. GrndLkNatv

    GrndLkNatv Formula Junior

    Sep 13, 2006
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    Mark Stephens
    Hami off in the dirt, DNF. Massa is 2nd, Kovaleinen is 3rd, Kimi fourth....
     
  4. kraftwerk

    kraftwerk Two Time F1 World Champ

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    Interesting if true they hid it well, on the other hand there car package may have just clicked together at the right time.

    Great to see them in contention though.
     
  5. Senna1994

    Senna1994 F1 World Champ

    Nov 11, 2003
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    It is nice to see the BMW so competitive and Kubica doing a stellar job, but I too wish FA had gone there after witnessing the Renault's performance yesterday.
     
  6. Modena360-66

    Modena360-66 Formula Junior

    Sep 25, 2007
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    We'll see tomorrow,
    if they have as much fuel as the mclarens that would be fantastic.
     
  7. Remy Zero

    Remy Zero Two Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2005
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    i seriously hope BMW can take the fight to Mclaren and Ferrari. heck, it'll be better if Williams can join in the fun. but there's some gossip in the Aussie paddock that BMWs are fast on a single lap, but as the tyre wears down, it affect the car's balance a lot, so we'll see tomoro.
     
  8. Senna3xWC

    Senna3xWC F1 Rookie

    Nov 30, 2006
    3,152
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    The pre-season reports were that BMW was having difficulty preserving the rear tires without TC. Perhaps they got that problem solved for this weekend?
     
  9. ferraridude615

    ferraridude615 F1 Veteran

    May 4, 2006
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    Maybe Heidfeld has been. Kubica outqualified NH by a few tenths AFTER taking a stroll through the grass. Certainly it will be very interesting to see how they during the race.
     
  10. maxorido

    maxorido Formula 3

    Jul 6, 2006
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    Well let's wait and see how much fuel he has tomorrow.
     
  11. icky

    icky Karting

    Jan 2, 2004
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    All in all the cars all seem to be more competitive this year. There aren't the huge gaps there was last year (not counting Super Aguri of course...). I don't think BMW has been sandbagging at all. I believe they had a great car, but suffered from various problems up until this weekend. I don't see what a team would gain from sandbagging, it sure wouldn't help the team figure out what their car is capable of. They may be one of the biggest stories of the year if they can manage to match the pace of the McLaren's throughout the season.
     
  12. BMW.SauberF1Team

    BMW.SauberF1Team F1 World Champ

    Dec 4, 2004
    14,436
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    It'll take more more than 1 flying lap for me to change my mind and believe they were sandbagging. If they can keep that pace up all race long, I think you may be onto something.
     
  13. icky

    icky Karting

    Jan 2, 2004
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    Even so, what would they gain from sandbagging? I think they were just able to fix the balance problems they had. That was their biggest (only?) negative issue about the new car.
     
  14. BMW.SauberF1Team

    BMW.SauberF1Team F1 World Champ

    Dec 4, 2004
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    Maybe to prevent the other team from spying on their stuff because they *think* it doesn't work that well. If BMW was breaking track records left and right, I'm sure Ferrari and McMerc would be learning everything about the BMW as much as they could. I know they already have people taking many photos of the other cars, but the effort put in after getting all the "evidence" may be less if they think it's slow and not working. No one probably bothers looking at a Honda for instance (on or off the track for that matter, lol).
     
  15. Agent Smith

    Agent Smith Formula 3

    Apr 20, 2002
    1,737
    I for one wouldn't mind seeing BMW finish out the season in 2nd - behind the boys in red of course :)
     
  16. smart_alek

    smart_alek Formula Junior

    Jun 12, 2005
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    We don't know how well they will preserve the tires over the span of a race. Hamilton and Kubica might eat through their tires during the race.
     
  17. VIZSLA

    VIZSLA Four Time F1 World Champ
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    Tire wear is going to be the big unknown for all teams. The lack of T/C will wear out the tires real fast if the driver isn't careful.
    An aside: According to SpeedTV the cars are running dirtier (more unburned fuel in the exhaust) without the engine controls. How does this reconcile with the new green image?
     
  18. fastback33

    fastback33 Formula 3

    Mar 8, 2004
    1,851
    Isn't hamilton known for being bad at preserving tires? A la, china last year when he went into the gravel trap going into the pits.
     
  19. ferraridude615

    ferraridude615 F1 Veteran

    May 4, 2006
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    I think he was on the wrong set of tires at the time and out for many more laps than he needed to be.
     
  20. Lindsay_Ross

    Lindsay_Ross Formula Junior

    May 14, 2007
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    I think BMW did sandbag to throw off the other teams. Really.

    They were pitting early this race, but still pulled it off. Interesting. I guess the hot laps on the car come a few laps after fresh tires, cause that would make them fly when the other teams would pit. Where as Ferrari normally stay out longer, turn the hot laps at the end of the tires' life and then duck into the pits.

    This tells me Ferrari technically have an easier car on tires, but you can't ignore the facts from the race conclusion.... BMW placed SOLID and showed qucik lap pace of the McLaren, if not full race speed ( Hamilton's huge gap on everyone right away was WOOOOWWWW impressive.)

    All in all, I would say BMW is a very very strong 3rd place very close to Ferrari and McLaren. Consistent podiums for sure this year. Win(s) possible if they keep it up! Awesome.
     
  21. Remy Zero

    Remy Zero Two Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2005
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    IMO, Kubik would have gotten pole and won. he was much heavier than Hammi...
     
  22. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    That is exactly what Roger Benoit thinks as well now. And he is probably the journalist closest to the team.
     
  23. VIZSLA

    VIZSLA Four Time F1 World Champ
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    In this day what would the point of sand bagging be? Is the idea that other teams wouldn't try as hard if they weren't worried about BMW? Unless there's some technical innovation that they're trying to fly under the radar???
     
  24. ferraridude615

    ferraridude615 F1 Veteran

    May 4, 2006
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    Kubica pitted before Hamilton.
     

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