BMW targets upturn with revised parts

BMW Sauber is to bring an upgraded version of its double-decker diffuser, plus a raft of mechanical updates, to the German Grand Prix in a bid to turn around its disappointing form

With the team having fallen far short of its pre-season expectations of fighting for the championship, efforts at its Hinwil and Munich bases have been ramped up to try and find the step forward it needs to make.

Mario Theissen, BMW's motorsport director, is confident that the work being put in now can help lift its fortunes - as he concedes the team cannot be satisfied with what it has delivered this year.

"Going into the German Grand Prix, we cannot be happy with the season so far," he said on Friday. "After three successful years, this recent period has been the first set-back for our team - and is one we will overcome.

"After all, this is the same team in Munich and Hinwil that has delivered continuous improvements since the team was founded.

"We are all absolutely determined to start moving forwards again and I expect us to experience an upturn in form. It is certainly not easy to make up lost ground without the chance to do any testing, but that is what we're aiming to do.

"We are bringing a series of mechanical improvements to the Eifel mountains, as well as a further developed version of our double-decker diffuser."

The team's head of engineering, Willy Rampf, is well aware of the pressure that will be on the team to deliver a strong result on home ground.

"After our disappointing performance at Silverstone we have to turn things around at the Nurburgring," he explained. "That's something we owe our many fans who always come to the race here.

"We will be bringing a modified version of our double-decker diffuser to the Nurburgring, and we have also made improvements on the mechanical side. Much will doubtless depend on how successful we are at getting the tyres to work."

Nick Heidfeld shared Theissen's feelings in believing there was little reason to be happy with what the team has shown in 2009.

"It goes without saying that our verdict on the season at the half-way point is anything but positive," he said. "Especially when you compare our results so far with our aims going into the season.

"Of course I hope we will make improvements, and that's what everybody in the team is working to achieve."