A few Interlagos scenarios for team and driversAs next week-end's 2008 season finale in Brazil looms ever nearer, the BMW Sauber team has been asking itself fundamental questions lately.
How can Robert Kubica defend his third place in the drivers' standings? Will
Nick Heidfeld achieve another personal best before the season ends? Can the BMW Sauber F1 Team still finish runner-up in the Constructors' Championship?
To answer these questions, the team will have to wait for the chequered flag to come down at the Interlagos track. Meanwhile, the people at BMW Sauber have put together several scenarios regarding their potential success...
4th place:
If
Nick Heidfeld wins the race in Brazil and
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) fails to pick up a point, then the 31-year-old will move up to fourth place in the Drivers' World Championship.
3rd place:
Robert Kubica's 75 World Championship points mean he currently has a six-point lead over fourth-placed Raikkonen in the Drivers' Championship. To guarantee that he remains in third place after the Brazilian Grand Prix, Kubica must simply finish ahead of the Finn, whatever their final race positions may be.
However, in a limited scenario, Kubica can also afford to stay behind and pick up five points less than the defending World Champion. Third place at Interlagos would also guarantee that the Pole ends the season in third place of the World Championship standings.
2nd place:
Going into the final race of the season, the BMW Sauber F1 Team is already guaranteed at least third place in the Constructors' Championship.
With 135 points, the team from Munich and Hinwil has almost twice as many points as fourth-placed team Renault, which has 72.
To finish runner-up, the two BMW Sauber F1.08s must win eleven more points than McLaren, who are currently on 145 points.
1st place:
The World Championship title will be decided between Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) and Felipe Massa (Ferrari) at Interlagos. The Brit currently leads local hero Massa by seven points. If Hamilton finishes within the top four, then he will be crowned as the 2008 World Champion. Massa has no choice but to finish at least in the top two in Brazil if he wants to maintain his chances of becoming champion this year.
Heidfeld's personal best:
Heidfeld needs just one more point to pass his previous best of 61 points, which he achieved last season. He must finish in the top seven to set a new personal record.
Twice as good:
Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica only need to pick up two World Championship points for the BMW Sauber F1 Team to have won as many points in the 2008 season as it did in 2006 and 2007 put together, namely 137.
