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[bmwpower]

There's speculation that BMW has been sandbagging in the winter testing. Other teams suggested that BMW maybe as fast or faster then either Ferrari or McLaren. BMW tested exclusively and privately in Valencia and according to partial time data (BMW refused to release full time data) both Heidfield and Kubica were faster then the McLarens. When Rampf was asked by this week by the media that BMW was sandbagging, he said "no comment". Usually "no comment" means there's some truth to it. Hopfully its true because I would love to see a three-way race for the Championship.

[Martin]

Yes, if that is true then It will make the pot a bit more of smoking couldron.

[umair_theheadliner]

i'd love to see 4 way title hunt

[8-ball]

If BMW playing down their pace this season then it is the best tactic for them. Let Mclaren and Ferrari destroy each other and then take the title

[Denthúl]

I think the fact that the BMWs have had really good pace through the winter testing whilst running (allegedly) full tanks all the time is definitely promising. And if that is the case, then qualifying on Saturday morning will be very interesting. It'd be nice to see the BMWs on the second and third rows. Even if they do have more speed than they are letting on, I don't think either BMW driver would be able to snatch pole this weekend. Of course, I have been wrong about these things before...

[McLaren Fan]

There could be some truth to it, for I think we were all surprised to learn that BMW went backwards. There is probably some truth in what the drivers say about the car being tricky to drive, but once the drivers get used to that, I think their times will quickly improve. Renault's cars are currently very difficult to drive and they managed to win the double back-to-back.

[welshie]

Honda sandbagged every race last year, we all know it!

[al4x]

i hope they arent

[McLaren Fan]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7293495.stm

BMW Sauber 'not ready to win yet'

Robert Kubica puts the BMW Sauber car through its paces in pre-season testing
The BMW Sauber car has been unconvincing in pre-season testing

BMW Sauber say they will not be in a position to challenge McLaren and Ferrari for race victories at the start of the season in Australia on Sunday.

Team boss Mario Theissen insisted the team were determined to win this season but had not yet found the performance.

"Our target is to continue on the steep slope we had in the past two years and to get closer to the two top teams and win a race this year," he said.

"And if you ask me about that, I would say we are not there yet."

BMW Sauber's form in pre-season testing has been unconvincing but Theissen is confident the team are back on the right track.

It is quite clear that we have taken a major step with the new car, one could even say a conceptual step

"I don't expect us to be in a position to win a race early on in the season but we still have the target to get there in the course of the season."

Theissen's team finished second in the constructors' championship last season following the disqualification of McLaren, who were found guilty of possessing confidential Ferrari data.

BMW scored almost twice as many points as third-placed Renault but the battle for the minor points positions looks set to be a lot closer this season, with Renault, Williams, Red Bull and Toyota all looking potentially more competitive.

The car had problems when it first appeared but Theissen said the team were getting on top of them.

"The suspension issue was sorted out almost immediately, after the second test we had a solution," stated Theissen.

"The aero situation turned out to be much more complex and it was not one big thing to be resolved but a combination of several steps to be taken.

Andrew Benson - BBC Sport
"All these steps were interdependent, so that's why I said we learned a lot in the past weeks and there is more to come.

"It is quite clear that we have taken a major step with the new car, one could even say a conceptual step.

"You have to take a bigger step and that always means a bigger risk as well. Looking back, I had hoped the car would be quick right away, but we wouldn't do anything different if we had to do it again."

[mooker]

I can't see them sandbagging all this time, to be honest. Testing time is over and sandbagging or not, they will need to see what the full potential of the car is before they race this weekend. I think we would have seen one or two days of good performance if they were.

[7UpJordan]

They might be able to pull something out of the bag, but at the moment, I think Rosberg's Williams is going to be lining up on the grid in Melbourne ahead of the BMW's. And maybe Nakajima splitting them.

[Jensonb]

Honda sandbagged every race last year, we all know it!

Yeah, and this year, keeping everyone from suspecting their all-conquering 2009 challenger.

A guy can dream