Kubica baffled by qualifying slump

The BMW Sauber driver had been in the hunt for the world championship title up until the last race in China, but two consecutive failures to make it through to Q3 have delivered a disappointing end to his campaign.

And he admits he is at a total loss to explain what has gone wrong for the team that started the season so strongly.

"I don't know," he told autosport.com when asked if he could explain the reasons behind the slump. "This is really the worst qualifying I have ever done and it is a surprise.

"I don't think it is coming from the tyres, but I don't know where it is coming from. I can just say that the grip is very poor. Even in 2006 it was a better qualifying then now so it's strange."

Kubica says there is no consolation in the poor qualifying result having come after he was out of the title fight.

"The last races, for sure in qualifying, it was not good. I have no clue why. I know my feelings about the car, about poor grip, but I have no clue why or where it is coming from.

"I think if we were still in the fight for the championship it would not happen, because it would mean that would have better pace, but I mean you know, all in all it is not the best moment. It's the same as it was in China.

"It is surprising me after so many races where everything was working, two races in a row that I am struggling to have any grip from the car. There is no clear one point where I can point out the problem, or understeer. It is just lacking grip."