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F1 Complete

Italian Qualifying Review: BMW

Monza (IT). After promising free practice sessions, the BMW Sauber F1 Team was disappointed in Qualifying: While both Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld consistently improved their lap times, both cars suddenly stopped due to engine failures. Both engines were new. Kubica has qualified 13th for tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix in Monza, while Heidfeld, who’s engine failed first, was 15th in the session.
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guardian.co.uk

Barrichello beats Button in Italy

• Brazilian takes two points out of Button's title advantage• Hamilton spins out of third place on final lap at MonzaRubens Barrichello gave his championship hopes a modest boost by winning the Italian grand prix at Monza this afternoon while his main rival and Brawn team-mate Jenson Button finished in second place.The Brawn team's decision to put both its drivers on a one-stop strategy paid off as behind them Kimi Raikkonen claimed the final podium position for Ferrari. Third place would have belonged to the polesitter, Lewis Hamilton, but he span his McLaren and crashed on the final lap while chasing Button.As one of only three drivers on a two-stop strategy, the lighter McLaren of Hamilton dominated the early stages of the race as he made a perfect start to maintain his lead. Behind him the front-row starter Adrian Sutil was passed by the third-place starter Kimi Raikkonen – both also one-stopping – and Hamilton steadily built a strong advantage before having to make the first of his two scheduled pit stops. A clean refuel and change to harder tyres on lap 15 let him rejoin in fifth position, behind Button. Raikkonen had stayed out on track for four more laps than Hamilton before pitting, but it was not enough to jump the McLaren.After the lead trio pitted, Barrichello led from Button and the title rivals pushed each other on at such a pace that it already threatened Hamilton's chance of winning the race. Button was the first Brawn to pit, just before the halfway point of the race, with Barrichello following him a lap later and comfortably retaking his position ahead of his British team-mate.The outcome rested on Hamilton's second stop, which McLaren opted to take surprising early on lap 34. Despite a smooth visit to the pits, Hamilton rejoined behind the pair of Brawns and began to chase down second-placed Button in the closing stages until putting a wheel on the kerb at the Lesmo and spinning. Ahead of them Barrichello maintained his lead to take the flag for his second victory of the year and carve two points out of Button's championship lead with four races remaining. The one-two finish also strengthens Brawn's advantage in the constructors' battle."It just feels really good," said Barrichello. "It was a great decision yesterday [to opt for a two-stop strategy] as the guys with Kers [Hamilton and Raikkonen] have 20 metres on us at the start so we had to bear that in mind. Luckily I had a good start and the pace was good enough to be in the front of them by the last pit stops."His title rival Button said: "Rubens did a better job [than me]. But second is good, and I gained seven points on [Sebastian] Vettel. He [Barrichello] is my closest rival. We've got a good relationship but we are competitive."Behind them Force India's Sutil finished in fourth place after a great battle with Raikkonen, the pair having suffered difficult second stops, Sutil when his car knocked down a pit crew member and Raikkonen when he appeared to stall his Ferrari. Putting Renault's race-fix scandal to one side, Fernando Alonso finished in fifth place ahead of McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen and BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld. Red Bull's Vettel picked up one point with eighth place thanks to Hamilton's error as he suffered another difficult race in his bid to win the world title; he is now 27 points behind Button.Red Bull's other championship contender, Mark Webber, made it no further than the first lap, having been pushed off the track and into retirement by BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica, the Pole later retiring himself. Vitantonio Liuzzi's racing return with Force India was scuppered by a gearbox problem on lap 23, while Giancarlo Fisichella finished just outside the points in ninth place in his race debut for Ferrari.Italian grand prix results:1 Rubens Barrichello, Brawn-Mercedes2 Jenson Button, Brawn-Mercedes3 Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari4 Adrian Sutil, Force India-Mercedes5 Fernando Alonso, Renault6 Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren-Mercedes7 Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber8 Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault9 Giancarlo Fisichella, Ferrari10 Kazuki Nakajima, Williams-Toyota11 Timo Glock, Toyota12 Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes13 Sébastien Buemi, Toro Rosso-Ferrari14 Jarno Trulli, Toyota15 Romain Grosjean, Renault16 Nico Rosberg, Williams-ToyotaNot classified:Vitantonio Liuzzi, Force India-MercedesJaime Alguersuari, Toro Rosso-FerrariRobert Kubica, BMW SauberMark Webber, Red Bull-RenaultBrawnJenson ButtonLewis HamiltonFormula OneMotor sportGemma Briggsguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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F1 Complete Turkey Thursday Press Conference

Drivers: Sebastien BUEMI (Toro Rosso), Heikki KOVALAINEN (McLaren Mercedes), Robert KUBICA (BMW Sauber), Nico ROSBERG (Williams).
06/04/09
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F1 Complete Kubica bitter after missed title chance

Jun.3 (GMM) Robert Kubica is now bitterer than ever about his missed opportunity to win the 2008 world championship.
06/03/09
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F1 Complete Kubica admits Renault still an option...

Sep.24 (GMM) Robert Kubica on Thursday admitted to following the crash-gate saga more closely than many of his on-track rivals would have.
09/24/09
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F1-Live.com Kubica admits Renault still an option...

Robert Kubica on Thursday admitted to following the Crash-gate saga more closely than many of his on-track rivals would have...  
09/24/09
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F1-Live.com BMW drivers hoping Monaco was a 'glitch'

Updated package ready for Istanbul The BMW Sauber team had a hard time of it during the Monaco Grand Prix after a difficult qualifying session saw Nick Heidfeld and Robert...
05/31/09
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guardian.co.uk Kubica considers Renault future

• Polish driver wants to know new owner's intentions• Felipe Massa has neck pain in two-day test sessionRobert Kubica is considering his future at Renault after the...
12/16/09
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F1 Complete

Turkish GP Review: BMW

Istanbul (TR). Robert Kubica came seventh and scored two more points at the Turkish Grand Prix to add to the BMW Sauber F1 Team’s tally. These are the first two points for the Pole in 2009. His team mate, Nick Heidfeld, came 11th in the heat of the Istanbul Park.
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guardian.co.uk

Button wins Turkish grand prix

• Sixth win in seven races for Brawn driver• Webber and Vettel finish second and thirdJenson Button continued his domination of the current Formula One season with his sixth victory in seven races to move a step closer to clinching his maiden world championship.A mistake from Brawn GP team-mate Rubens Barrichello off the line and an error from pole-sitter Sebastian Vettel in his Red Bull on the opening lap allowed Button to cruise to the line in the Turkish Grand Prix.It was his fourth consecutive success, the first time that has been achieved by a Briton since Nigel Mansell went on to take the title in 1992.Button now has a 26-point cushion over Barrichello at the top of the standings as the Brazilian retired on lap 49, with Vettel 32 points adrift as he finished third behind team-mate Mark Webber.After crossing the line, Button was told over the pit-to-car radio he had produced an "awesome drive," to which he replied: "Thank you. You've built me a monster of a car. You guys are absolute legends."Only five times in Formula One's 60-year history had any driver won six out of the first seven races: Alberto Ascari, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark and Michael Schumacher (twice).Button could not have asked for it to be any easier, either, thanks to Barrichello initially as he stalled from his third place on the grid, relegating him down to 13th by the end of the first lap.Vettel, whose two previous victories had come from pole, ran wide onto a painted kerb coming out of turn nine.That forced him into running onto the grass approaching turn 10, which was all the invitation Button needed to take the lead, and ultimately the victory.Not even switching Vettel to a three-stop strategy then worked for although he ran behind Button's exhaust at the midway point of the race, his failure to pass the championship leader also cost him.It was not even good enough for the runner-up spot as Webber did enough in his stints to take the line just 0.7secs clear of the 21-year-old.Toyota's Jarno Trulli finished fourth, followed by Nico Rosberg in his Williams, matching his best performance of the season.Winner of this race from pole for the last three years in Felipe Massa in his Ferrari was sixth, with BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica finally ending his points duck with seventh.The second Toyota of Timo Glock completed the top eight, with Lewis Hamilton 13th in his pitiful McLaren, finishing 80.4 seconds adrift of runaway winner and championship leader Button.As for the constructors, Brawn's first failure of the season means Red Bull have closed the gap by four points to 39.5.In the build-up immediately before the race at Istanbul's Otodrom, there had been wild rumours the FOTA eight would boycott it at the end of the formation lap.It had been suggested as a protest to their ongoing feud with the FIA over the budget cap, but as expected it failed to materialise – thankfully so for Button, who marches on.Final positions1 Jenson Button (Brawn)2 Mark Webber (Red Bull) +6.7143 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) +7.4614 Jarno Trulli (Toyota) +27.8435 Nico Rosberg (Williams) +31.5396 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) +39.9967 Robert Kubica (BMW) +46.2478 Timo Glock (Toyota) +46.959Jenson ButtonBrawnLewis HamiltonForce IndiaRed BullMcLarenSauberRenaultToro RossoToyotaWilliamsMotor sportguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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guardian.co.uk Alonso signs Ferrari deal

• Kimi Raikkonen set to return to McLaren• Robert Kubica in position to replace Alonso at RenaultFormula One's worst-kept secret has finally been confirmed, with Fernando...
09/30/09
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F1 Complete Alonso says to Renault: "Sign Kubica"

Oct.1 (GMM) The Ferrari-bound Fernando Alonso on Thursday advised his current team Renault to replace him for 2010 with Robert Kubica.
10/01/09
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F1-Live.com Renault and Toyota confirm Kubica...

Renault and Toyota have confirmed their tussle to sign up Robert Kubica for next season...  
10/02/09
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F1-Live.com Toyota chasing Kubica and Raikkonen...

Robert Kubica has emerged as a leading candidate to switch to Toyota next year, and team president John Howett also admitted at Suzuka that he would happily sign Kimi...
10/02/09
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F1 Complete Toyota wants Kubica or Raikkonen

Oct.2 (GMM) Robert Kubica has emerged as a leading candidate to switch to Toyota next year, and team president John Howett also admitted at Suzuka that he would happily sign...
10/02/09
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F1 Complete Monaco GP Debrief: BMW

Monaco. The BMW Sauber F1 Team leaves Monaco empty handed. Nick Heidfeld finished 11th, while his team mate, Robert Kubica, retired after 29 laps because of brake problems.
05/25/09
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F1-Live.com

Kubica pins hopes on new double diffuser

BMW Sauber bring further updates to Istanbul After showing well and aiming for second position in Australia before being eliminated by Sebastian Vettel, BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica has yet to score after six rounds of the championship...  
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F1-Live.com

Kubica bitter after missed title chance

Critical of the rate of development of the F1.09 Robert Kubica is now bitterer than ever about his missed opportunity to win the 2008 world championship...  
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F1 Complete Renault & Toyota fight for Kubica

Oct.2 (GMM) The bosses of the Renault and Toyota teams on Friday confirmed their tussle to sign up Robert Kubica for the 2010 season.
10/02/09
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F1-Live.com Kubica now wary of manufacturer...

Robert Kubica on Saturday appeared to express concerns about moving to the Renault or Toyota teams next year...  
10/03/09
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F1 Complete Kubica wants secure future for 2010 team

Oct.3 (GMM) Robert Kubica on Saturday appeared to express concerns about moving to the Renault or Toyota teams in 2010.
10/03/09
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F1 Complete Japan GP Review: BMW

Suzuka (JP). The BMW Sauber F1 Team managed to score points in the fifth consecutive race, but is not happy with the result. Nick Heidfeld started from fourth, but in the...
10/04/09
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F1 Complete Howett admits Kubica not headed to...

Oct.4 (GMM) Robert Kubica seems to have dropped out of contention for a seat at Toyota in 2010.
10/04/09
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F1-Live.com Renault favourite to sign Kubica

Robert Kubica seems to have dropped out of contention for a seat at Toyota next year according to reports from Japan...  
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guardian.co.uk Vettel closes gap on Button in Japan

• Vettel wins from pole with Lewis Hamilton third• Button finishes eighth but stays 14 points clearJenson Button's slow march towards the world title took another step...
10/04/09
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F1 Complete Qualifying Review: BMW

Monaco. The BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica ended up disappointed after finishing 17th and 18th in qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix.
05/23/09
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