INTERVIEW WITH BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM DRIVER ROBERT KUBICA

“I don’t have to cope with anything.”

Munich/Hinwil, 29th May 2008. Six races into the 2008 season BMW Sauber F1 Team
driver Robert Kubica lies fourth in the drivers’ world championship with 32
points to his tally. In a week he will return to where he escaped a horrendous
accident a year ago.

You were one of the few drivers able to finish the Monaco Grand Prix without
making any mistakes. Does this give you special satisfaction?

Robert Kubica: Not really. Okay, it was a difficult race, especially as there
was a lot of water on the track, much more than we were expecting. The
conditions were changing constantly, and this was also the case with regard to
what tyres were best, therefore all the time we were having to adapt very
quickly. I made some small mistakes – two or three times I thought I would end
up in the barriers - but eventually I was able to control the car. It was, in
fact, a very difficult race and I’m happy I adopted the right approach by being
consistent and keeping up a good speed. With regard to the strategy, it was
also a challenge, and I think we had a strong race. The outcome was I scored an
important podium for the team and myself.

In a week Formula One returns to Canada where last year you escaped a
horrendous accident. How do you cope with memories of the accident?

Kubica: I don’t have to cope with anything. We go to Canada which is one of my
favourite tracks. Of course everybody knows what happened in 2007, but I don’t
have to cope because it’s already a year ago, and since then I have been
driving a Formula One car without thinking about it. In Formula One and
motorsport the risks are high, but I don’t have any negative feelings about
Canada. I am just going there as I go to any other race with the goal to score
as many points as possible.

Did the accident change anything in your life?

Kubica: No.

What role does the mental part play in Formula One? Are you doing any special
training?

Kubica: I think your mental state is important in every sport, but in Formula
One it is particularly important. Just look at the last race. Even in dry
conditions, Monaco is very demanding mentally, but this time it was even more
difficult. We had to maintain concentration for two hours while driving between
the barriers at the limit in ever changing conditions. Monaco is one of the
easiest races with regard to physical preparation, but the hardest in regards
to concentration. I don’t do any mental training, but I’m trying to improve
myself all the time, and I think that my mental level is good. The best
preparation for me was all those races against good drivers when I was younger.
I think we are all our own best mental trainers, and this is just by analysing
and understanding our personal mistakes and approach.

You have had a fantastic season so far - why were you able to improve so much
compared to last year?

Kubica: There were many factors which influenced my results in 2007. I don’t
think I have improved so much as a driver. But there are several outside
factors that have improved a lot and these are both around and inside the car.
All these factors have made my life easier with regard to setting up the car as
I want it and having a better feeling for the car. The results this year show
just how much I was struggling last year, and I think I was struggling much
more than anyone outside realised. There are so many small factors that can
influence your performance in Formula One. Last year was extremely
disappointing for me, but I have learned from this, and I’m happy I have been
able to improve the performance so much.

Do you consider yourself a championship contender this year?

Kubica: I don’t think so, but of course anything can happen in Formula One. In
the last two or three races especially we were not as competitive as we were at
the beginning of the season, when we were in between the Ferraris and the
McLarens. Recently, it has been more difficult for us to be up there. I expect
Kimi Räikkönen, Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton to fight for the championship,
but if I see an opportunity, of course, I shall do my best. My approach is the
same for all the races: I try to get the maximum out of the car and score the
most points possible.

Montreal is a so-called “medium downforce” track. Do you think it should suit
the BMW Sauber F1.08?

Kubica: Montreal is track which is completely different to Monaco, apart from
the fact that it’s a kind of street circuit where the grip level is improving
massively from one session to the next. But the downforce level is much lower.
We really have to see what it is like. We ran a relatively low downforce level
in Turkey, where we were not so fast, but the team has developed a special
medium downforce aero package for Montreal, which I hope will work and put us
in a strong position.

What do you do in your spare time?

Kubica: I’m preparing for the next test or race. I work on my physical fitness,
having done this particularly before the start of the season. But of course I
also like to relax after a race to get the energy back before the next one. In
addition, I like to play Poker, go Bowling or just do normal things like other
people do.

For further information please visit the media website
www.press.bmw-motorsport.com (press releases, press kits, images, TV footage)
and the official team website www.bmw-sauber-f1.com (car, season, Race Club,
team updates).