Coulthard meanwhile was disappointed that his late race drama in China dropped him from eighth to an agonising ninth, but will be eager to hit back on a circuit where experience really is a virtue, as shown by his strong sixth place in 2005.
BMW Sauber – Nick Heidfeld (#16), Robert Kubica (#17):
Having branded his Chinese Grand Prix the ‘most disappointing race’ in his career, Nick Heidfeld nonetheless goes to Japan in the knowledge that he was heading for yet another strong result for the ever improving
BMW.
Making their fourth appearance in the top ten with both of their drivers during qualifying, the partnership of Heidfeld and Robert Kubica appears to have struck a successful chord, with both drivers pushing each other up the grid, something that should have seen Heidfeld claim fourth in China but for the interference of backmarkers and the eventual fatal blow by
Rubens Barrichello on the final lap, dropping him to seventh by the finish.
Still, Heidfeld is determined to get back on track, ranking Suzuka as his favourite
F1 circuit on the calendar, while he too has signalled his hopes the track can be saved for a possible second race in the land of the rising sun.
“I just can’t wait to get to Suzuka,” he said. “It’s my favourite of all F1 circuits. This time it will be a slightly wistful occasion as we may not be racing there again after 2006 if Fuji joins the racing calendar as the venue for the Japanese GP. But I’m hoping there might be two races in Japan.
“It would be sad to say farewell to this challenging circuit. Its main attraction is the so-called ‘esses’, a series of high-speed turns behind the pits. There are five consecutive corners which flow beautifully and are tremendous fun if you manage to get them right. But if you mess up the first turn, it will pursue you right through to the last one in the sequence.
Kubica meanwhile continues to win new fans after a storming drive in China, spoilt by a decision to switch to slick tyres on a still greasy circuit.
