Kubica took the lead of the F1 drivers’ championship for the first time after his maiden wide prix victory in Canada in 2008, and was as soon as real two functions off the tip on the halfway level of the season.
However after BMW opted to shift its level of curiosity to its 2009 vehicle and the introduction of KERS, the efficiency of its F1.08 model suffered as McLaren and Ferrari moved forward with upgrades.
Kubica would salvage real three podiums in the 2d half of the season, fading to fourth in the standings as he completed 23 functions in the help of world champion Lewis Hamilton. BMW ended up quitting F1 on the cease of the 2009 season after its air-cooled KERS machine proved uncompetitive.
Kubica said help in 2008 that he knowing it was as soon as a mistake to desert developing the F1.08 further, and has no longer modified his gape for the time being.
“I the truth is enjoy precisely the identical gape as I did [back then], on fable of in the cease I used to be as soon as eager, and I used to be as soon as in the scenario where sadly I used to be as soon as feeling that this would possibly occasionally be our most efficient probability to fight [for the championship],” Kubica suggested GP Racing. “We didn’t enjoy the fastest vehicle, that is a reality. On the entire the fastest vehicle is winning the championship, but no longer always.
“For whatever motive – the errors of others, doing the next job to initiating with of the season – in the cease, without the fastest vehicle, we had been unruffled main the championship.
“You will must exercise your alternatives, on fable of you by no draw know in life in the occasion you’ll pick up a 2d probability. I met a pair of of the mechanics after 10 years, who had been there with me, and they had precisely the identical gape. And they also remorse it, on fable of in the cease we didn’t pick up one other probability.”
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Kubica remained in mathematical contention for the title unless the third-to-last ride of the year in Japan, where a 2d-assign cease was as soon as no longer ample to retain his hopes alive.
It was as soon as a season that seen final title protagonists Hamilton and Felipe Massa both roam up, rising the chance for Kubica and BMW to cease in the fight no topic suspending pattern of its vehicle.
“That is racing, no one was as soon as dominating,” Kubica said. “Ferrari and McLaren had been stronger at some tracks than others, but had technical points and made errors. That’s how I came to be main the championship, and stayed in the fight so prolonged, without the fastest vehicle.
“I undergo in tips in Fuji qualifying sixth, with [teammate] Cut [Heidfeld] 16th. We had been nowhere with efficiency. However I led on lap one and completed 2d. I’m clear if we had been racing the parts we’d tested three months earlier, I’d enjoy received that ride.
“I unruffled enjoy some regrets about it, but I also with out a doubt feel that I used to be as soon as fortunate to be on this location – on fable of there are varied talented drivers who by no draw had that probability.”
