BMW’s Mario Theissen has backed Ron Dennis’ claim that McLaren “flattered” the performance of Ferrari at Magny Cours.
The team principal for BMW-Sauber confessed that Nick Heidfeld, who was spectacularly passed by Fernando Alonso during the French grand prix, would not have finished ahead of his McLaren rival if Alonso’s team had selected a better strategy.
“For half the race he had to drive with full tanks and so he lost crucial time,” Theissen is quoted as saying by Sport Bild.
“We were very surprised about it (the strategy), because it helped us more than it helped them.”
Alonso also admitted that his strategy was not ideal, although it was worsened by the fact that he was confined to a starting fuel load that had already been determined prior to his gearbox problem.
The Spaniard also acknowledged: “And after the race it is always easier to analyse the things you could have done better.”
