The BMW Sauber F1.09 was the Formula One car with which the BMW Sauber team competed in the 2009 Formula One World Championship. The car was launched on 20 January 2009 at Circuit de Valencia in Spain.[2][3] It was driven by Poland's Robert Kubica and Germany's Nick Heidfeld, both retained from 2008. The chassis was designed by Willy Rampf, Walter Reidl, Christoph Zimmermann and Willem Toet with the powertrain being designed by Markus Duesmann.
 Robert Kubica driving the F1.09 at the Spanish Grand Prix | |||||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | BMW Sauber | ||||||||||
| Designer(s) | Willy Rampf (Technical Director) Walter Riedl (Engineering Director) Christoph Zimmermann (Chief Designer) Loïc Serra (Chief Vehicle Dynamicist) Willem Toet (Head of Aerodynamics) Seamus Mullarkey (Chief Aerodynamicist) | ||||||||||
| Predecessor | BMW Sauber F1.08 | ||||||||||
| Successor | Sauber C29 | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications[1] | |||||||||||
| Chassis | Carbon fibre monocoque | ||||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Upper and lower wishbones, inboard springs and dampers, actuated by pushrods | ||||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | As front | ||||||||||
| Engine | BMW P86/9 2.4 litres V8 Naturally aspirated, 18,000 RPM Limited with KERS | ||||||||||
| Transmission | 7 forward speeds + 1 reverse | ||||||||||
| Fuel | Petronas | ||||||||||
| Tyres | Bridgestone Potenza OZ Wheels | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | BMW Sauber F1 Team | ||||||||||
| Notable drivers | 5.  Robert Kubica6.  Nick Heidfeld | ||||||||||
| Debut | 2009 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last event | 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
As of 2024[update], this was the last Formula One car powered by a BMW engine and the last Sauber car utilizing with Petronas fuels, as they would supply to Mercedes the following season.
Season summary
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After the team's impressive performance in 2008, winning their first race and coming third in the championship, much was expected of them. BMW made a promising start to the season, with Kubica running second at Melbourne and lapping faster than the leader before retiring in a collision,[4] and Heidfeld finishing second at the chaotic Malaysian GP. However, the F1.09 ultimately proved to be disappointing. At times, the drivers could barely scrape through to Q2, let alone challenge for pole. Both drivers expressed discontent with the slow developments to the car. Towards the end of the season things began to look up, with the cars managing fourth and fifth at Spa-Francorchamps and Kubica finishing second at Brazil. However, the damage had been done, and BMW announced that 2009 would be their last season in Formula One. The team eventually finished sixth in the Constructors' Championship.
Livery
editThe livery was similar to the previous year's car. The engine cover promoted both BMW's ConnectedDrive and EfficientDynamics technology at different races.
In Monaco, the engine cover had a message which read "Happy Birthday, MINI", celebrating 50 years of the Mini division.
Complete Formula One results
edit(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | BMW Sauber F1 Team | BMW P86/9 V8 | B | AUS | MAL‡ | CHN | BHR | ESP | MON | TUR | GBR | GER | HUN | EUR | BEL | ITA | SIN | JPN | BRA | ABU | 36 | 6th | |
| Robert Kubica
|
14† | Ret | 13 | 18 | 11 | Ret | 7 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 4 | Ret | 8 | 9 | 2 | 10 | ||||||
| Nick Heidfeld
|
10 | 2 | 12 | 19 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 7 | Ret | 6 | Ret | 5 |
† Driver failed to finish, but was classified as they had completed >90% of the race distance.
‡ Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance completed.
References
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- ^ "BMW Sauber F1 Team Website – F109 – Factsheet". BMW Sauber. Archived from the original on 1 February 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2009.
- ^ Elizalde, Pablo (20 January 2009). "BMW Sauber unveil the new F1.09". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2009.
- ^ "BMW Sauber unveil the F1.09 in Valencia". Formula1.com. 20 January 2009. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2009.
- ^ "Vettel cost Kubica win – Thiessen". BBC Sport. 29 March 2009. Archived from the original on 1 April 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
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