From GMM

While teams including Ferrari and McLaren have stopped developing their 2009 cars, BMW-Sauber has arrived in Singapore with a massive development of its F1.09 single seater.

Team boss Mario Theissen hinted to the Swiss newspaper Blick that it is the biggest upgrade that has ever left the Hinwil factory, while technical boss Willy Rampf added: "Everything is new except the steering wheel and the cockpit."


Tellingly, even the gearbox is completely new, which is a major sign about the team's confidence about racing under its new Qadbak ownership next year. Theissen confirmed that the unit will also be used at the beginning of 2010, in conjunction with a Ferrari drivetrain.

Incredibly, the team's data seems to indicate a step forward in the range of up to a full second per lap, and Rampf confirmed: "The wind tunnel data is very good."

Rampf's technical team has been working on the upgrade ever since the decision to completely scrap KERS was made earlier this season.

He is quoted as saying by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport: "This is our ultimate non-KERS package."