2007 BMW Sauber F1 07-06B
The BMW Sauber F1.07 was the car used by BMW Sauber during the 2007 Formula One season. It was the first Formula One chassis designed entirely by BMW. Pre-season testing was highly encouraging, leading many to believe that BMW could challenge closer to the front once the season began.
The F1.07 proved to be a clear step forward from the 2006 F1.06. In a year dominated almost entirely by Ferrari and McLaren, who together claimed 46 of the 51 available podium finishes, BMW Sauber still managed to secure two podium results. Both came courtesy of Nick Heidfeld, who finished second at the Canadian Grand Prix and third in Hungary. Consistency was one of the car’s strongest traits: the team scored points on 26 of 34 possible occasions, finished in the points in every race with at least one car, and achieved points finishes with both cars in six consecutive races between the French and Italian Grands Prix.
Robert Kubica delivered several strong performances, with fourth-place finishes in Spain, France, and Great Britain marking his best results of the season. The F1.07 also has an early link to Sebastian Vettel, who stepped in for one race at the United States Grand Prix and scored a point with an eighth-place finish.
In qualifying, Heidfeld was often the only driver outside Ferrari and McLaren to disrupt the established order at the front of the grid, achieving a best qualifying position of second in Hungary. BMW Sauber qualified inside the top ten at every race, with the sole exception of Kubica’s 14th-place qualifying result at Spa.
The F1.07 is also remembered for being involved in one of the most dramatic accidents of the modern Formula One era, when Kubica suffered a massive crash at the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix. Remarkably, he escaped with minor injuries, and for the following race he was temporarily replaced by the then little-known Sebastian Vettel, who would later go on to become a four-time World Champion.
Chassis History
Chassis F1.07-6B
Used for development and driven by Nick HEIDFELD, Robert KUBICA and Sebastian VETTEL during pre-season testing.
Chassis R3-06 is race-ready, comes with complete history, and is available for sale. Price upon request. Inquire here.
Article and Photography by Officina Caira.
