Kubica says mistake cost him pole

The BMW driver, who recorded a career-best grid position to line up alongside pole man Lewis Hamilton on the front row for the opening race of the season, ran wide over the kerbs at Turn 12 before managing to drag his car back on track.

"Yeah. for sure I made a mistake in corner 12 over the grass, I lost more than a couple of tenths there," he said.

"That is the risk we took, we knew we could get a good result in qualifying, I took quite a bit of risk, but in the end it didn't pay off as I lost more than to stay ahead of Lewis."

Kubica and teammate Nick Heidfeld both qualified in the top five for the first grand prix of the season, emphasising team principal Mario Theissen's theory that BMW are still third in the pecking order behind Ferrari and McLaren.

But the Pole, while happy with the performance turnaround of the F1.08, which began winter testing as unpredictable and off the pace, revealed his car is still difficult to set up.

"We have done a very good job people in Munich and Hinwil, we've worked hard to be here and thanks to them I am here," he said.

"Yesterday we had some problems. This year's car is difficult to balance and it is extremely difficult to find the right balance, especially when the conditions are windy, anyway we have done a good job and let's hope for the race."

Kubica also admitted that the ban on braking aids had helped the balance of the car in 2008.

"I found much better braking stability without engine braking system, which means that we missed something last year with this system, but it is gone, we think of the future and I think we are in good shape," he said.