In Grasshopper’s article yesterday he covered the problems that BMW seemed to be having extracting a competitive time from their machinery. Robert Kubica’s quote of “The car is nowhere – it is not working” summing this up perfectly in a Free Practice 1 which ended with Kubica and Heidfeld positioned eleventh and twelfth respectively.

It would appear that their difficulties continued in the rain-affected Free Practice 2. Both drivers remained mired in the midfield, although this time Heidfeld at least got the upper hand and sneaked into the top ten. Was this an early indication that he was getting on top of his teammate?

Saturday Free Practice certainly saw the gap between the two widen. Whilst Robert Kubica slipped to thirteenth fastest – back in the 1m 49s, his teammate was the only man in 1m 47s, setting the fastest lap of the day so far. That is as impressive as it is surprising.

I am always cautious of reading too much in to practice times, but I get the feeling that the German is the least troubled by his car of the two drivers this weekend. Nick is in need of a strong qualifying performance having being dominated by teammate so far this season and with Robert apparently struggling this could be his best chance yet.

All bookmakers have Robert Kubica as favourite in a qualifying match against his teammate, but none by quite so far as a SkyBet. With the Polish driver as short as 1/4, the German – who was born just over an hour from the Spa circuit – can be backed at 11/4. That seems to be pretty long in a two-horse race.