BMW to leave Formula One at end of 2009

[xpensive]

Agreed, the Enstone team is in reality little more than the old Toleman/Bennetton thing with French built engines. Briatore can surely buy the whole shabang from his own pocket if he so wishes. Even having Renault engines supplied called Mecachrome or something?

[Chaparral]

From Joe Saward:

There were rumours in Budapest over the weekend that the Renault F1 team may be on the verge of being sold, with the latest whispers suggesting that the man most likely to buy the team is Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, who is the owner of the team’s recently-announced sponsor MegaFon.

[xpensive]

As discussed before Chap, a race-ban would surely be the last straw for Gohsn and a straight sale of the team should simplify things greatly for the owners?

But wouldn't another somewhat unpredictable oligarch be the worst possible solution for the future of the team itself, when we all remember Alex Schneider?

As for BMW, my money is on they are pulling back as a manufacturer, handing the team back to Peter Sauber, don't even have to change the name of the team really.
Engines can stay on as there is zero development there anyway?

[mx_tifoso]

As discussed before Chap, a race-ban would surely be the last straw for Gohsn and a straight sale of the team should simplify things greatly for the owners?

I doubt someone as professional as Ghosn would react like that. But the strangest sh*t can and will happen in Formula One.

But if someone can't handle a well deserved penalty and that prompts them to leave then so be it.

[freedom_honda]

from Murray Walker's Twitter:

Just received a telephone call from a moustachioed German, who's name I can not reveal. It's not good news. Keep an eye on the news tomorrow

[fenix4life]

There is going to be a press conference this morning.
Has been organised quickly.
We will see what the information will be

[Chaparral]

from Murray Walker's Twitter:

Just received a telephone call from a moustachioed German, who's name I can not reveal. It's not good news. Keep an eye on the news tomorrow

Thatd be this gentleman to say auf weidersen Freedom

[xpensive]

Press conference just started, when it is likely to be in German, or so I guess, can you keep us posted WB?

[TheChad]

It's official!

http://www.bmw-sauber-f1.com/en/index.h ... ws/~337|0/

[i70q7m7ghw]

As for BMW, my money is on they are pulling back as a manufacturer, handing the team back to Peter Sauber, don't even have to change the name of the team really.
Engines can stay on as there is zero development there anyway?

My guess is part of the decision is based on not wanting their name associated with losing, if they remained as engine suppliers and Sauber remained a backmarker I doubt BMW would be happy with that. Its a good idea though, might be a nice way to gradually pull out and give Sauber time to rebuild the team.

[noname]

BMW just admitted they are not good enough for F1. last year they had real chance to grab the title but they thrown it to trash because they were so bonded to their great plan (2008 - 1st win, 2009 - fight for the title).

there is a lot of "bla-bla-bla, we were very successful" in the press statement but, from my point of view, they lack understanding what the sport is about and they do not have "fighter's heart". although there are big money involved in F1 there is still a difference between sport and business.

as a Pole I am curious where Robert will be driving next season (if he will be in F1, of course). what happened may spice-up drivers market a little bit.

[axle]

No mention of whether they will continue to make engines...and of their sell off plans - guess we'll see in the next few weeks.

[ESPImperium]

With a single year hickup they pull out. All theese corprate types who want to be in the sport as long as they are winning and at the front of the pack is just what the sport dosnt need. If they loose one season, they just have to knucke down and get to the front eventually. They have been in the sport just as long as Toyota and they havnt even scored a win and im shure they will remain for 2010.

Ithe problem is that they want success, quickly, and at a time of theyir choosing. Any deveation from that they cut their losses and run. Real F1 people are the likes of the Williams F1 team. They gain success thrugh time and knowlege and knowing of the way the sport works with the money they have avalable. BME wanted almost instant success at any cost, and once the economic condititions took a downward look, they saw that their time was looming to a close. In my opinion, if they had wethered the storm and not invested a rumored $250m in KERS over two and a half years and invested that in their car, especially at the end of last seasn, they would have made it a 3 way dance at the end of they year, and id have said that Kubica could have walked away with something other than 3rd in the champoinship. And their car this year would have been miles quicker.

Another problem with teams such as BMW Sauber and Honda is that they just arnt on the radar of drivers such as Alonso/Hamilton/Massa/Raikkonenn, drivers that can and have won championships. This is a thing that time can only change and Munich has now shown that dont have the time and resource to do this.

Sorry to see BMW leave F1, but im happy to get their corperate structure out of F1. Just hope that their can be a Brawn rise from the ashes. I dont think this is the end, theres gonna be at least 1 more withdrawal for 2010 on the way.

[James_graham]

Well after they pull out there is a short list of people still in it??

Prodrive would be my guess!

[greenpower dude reloaded]

You beat me by a two minutes! erm I'm hoping it will give prodrive another shot but i suspect we probably won't gain an extra team, despite having had so many vying for a place earlier on in the year.