Information technology's the end of another era in F1, the era of expensive wind tunnels and complicated aerodynamic improvements. No more funky antlers (horns, dumbo ears), winglets, flexible front wings, noses with holes in them etc. In 2009 this drive for the perfect aerodynamic car is all but over with the introduction of new and dramatic rules.

I volition put upwards iii posts in the next few days dedicated to the F1.0- series from 2006 to 2008. Starting with the F1.06, here's the starting time.

BMW entered F1 in 2006 as a team owner and developed 3 cars progressively aerodynamic with the F1.08 their finest and last. With the aero era over, here'southward a bit almost the 3 year evolution of the BMW F1.0- series before the 200 rule takeover.

bmw sauber f106 1

In 2006, the offset year for BMW Sauber a new engine rule was introduced where the 3 litre v10 engines were replaced with two.four litre v8 engines specifically the BMW P86 V8 . The new engines were smaller with a much lower output, but likewise more fuel efficient.

There take been some significant changes to the old Sauber car to arrive the F1.06, starting from the chassis that has been lowered significantly at at the front. The nose also lowered with it's underbelly curving upward. Many aerodynamic changes were made to the front fly in the ongoing battle to improve airflow under the motorcar and forth the sides.

The fact the engines are smaller and therefore require smaller radiators, the sidepods could exist more than streamlined and aerodynamic. Another noticeable event of the smaller V8 is the smaller diameter air intake in the forepart of the curlicue bar.

bmw sauber f106 fwing

Big intentions, big ideas, and big efforts were all there for the squad, but the realism was that this was the team's first twelvemonth and their first attempt at an F1 car.

Willy Rampf:

"We are not under whatsoever illusions: nosotros have a long road ahead of the states," he said. "2006 is a year of transition, and and then would exist premature to declare any sporting objectives. The principal thing is that everything is pointing in the right direction."

The drivers for this first season were Jacques Villeneuve and Nick Heidfeld and by the cease of the season Jacques had already been replaced by Robert Kubica and the results were proficient.

The first points for the team came at the Malaysian Grand Prix with Jacques Villeneuve finishing in seventh place. The Hungarian Grand Prix is where the team scored their first podium courtesy of Nick Heidfeld at the 2006 Hungarian Thousand Prix. This was likewise the race where

Villeneuve'due south career came to an cease when suspiciously, Robert Kubica replaced Villeneuve with BMW stating that Villeneuve couldn't bulldoze considering he hadn't recovered sufficiently afterwards his crash at the German Thou Prix. Non surprisingly BMW announced that Villeneuve wouldn't exist back with the squad and that Robert Kubica (the third driver) would permanently replace him.

It was Robert Kubica who scored BMW Sauber's 2nd podium of the 2006 flavor at the Italian Grand Prix finishing third. By the time 2006 was finished BMW Sauber had finished fifth place in the constructor'south championship.  Fairly successful for the starting time year.

This article was written past Stew, found of BMWF1blog.com, a place where yous can get you Formula 1 "prepare".