BMW announce Formula One withdrawal
#1
07-29-2009, 03:40 AM
BMW announce Formula One withdrawal
Is Formula 1 ever going to be the same??? Teams going out teams coming in... talks about a new setup 
bbc
bbc
BMW's future in Formula 1 is in doubt amid speculation they are to pull out at the end of this season.
The German car manufacturer have called an emergency news conference at 0900 BST citing "current developments in motor sport" as the reason.
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said the team had given themselves three years to win the world championship.
"It's not quite been like that so perhaps that's why they've [decided] to stop," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"When you consider how much money they've spent and the results they've got, it's probably not such a good investment.
"They were quite sure that they were going to win the championship within three years, and I was hoping they would."
The German car manufacturer have called an emergency news conference at 0900 BST citing "current developments in motor sport" as the reason.
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said the team had given themselves three years to win the world championship.
"It's not quite been like that so perhaps that's why they've [decided] to stop," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"When you consider how much money they've spent and the results they've got, it's probably not such a good investment.
"They were quite sure that they were going to win the championship within three years, and I was hoping they would."
Last edited by like.no.other; 07-29-2009 at 09:49 AM.
#4
07-29-2009, 09:46 AM
BMW announce Formula One withdrawal
BMW will end their involvement in Formula One racing at the end of the current season, it was announced on Wednesday. The move is part of what the German car maker described as a ‘landmark’ decision to restructure its motorsport activities.
The news came at a press conference held at the company’s German headquarters in Munich, attended by BMW Sauber team principal Mario Theissen, along with Dr. Norbert Reithofer, the chairman of the BMW board, and Dr. Klaus Draeger, the director for development.
BMW became Formula One entrants in 2006 after taking over the Swiss Sauber team. The company said the decision to withdraw stems from a desire to dedicate more resources to developing new, sustainable road car technologies.
“Of course, this was a difficult decision for us,” explained Reithofer. “But it’s a resolute step in view of our company's strategic realignment. Premium will increasingly be defined in terms of sustainability and environmental compatibility. This is an area in which we want to remain in the lead. Our Formula One campaign is thus less a key promoter for us."
Paying tribute to Theissen’s leadership of BMW Sauber, who finished third in last year’s championship, Reithofer added: “Mario has been in charge of our motorsports program since 1999. We have scored a large number of successes in this period, including some in Formula One racing. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mario Theissen and his team for this.”
Theissen commented: "Of course, we, the employees in Hinwil and Munich, would all have liked to continue this ambitious campaign and show that this season was just a hiccup following three successful years. But I can understand why this decision was made from a corporate perspective. We will now focus sharply on the remaining races and demonstrate our fighting spirit and put in a good result as we bid farewell to Formula One racing.”
BMW’s original Formula One involvement began in the 1980s as an engine supplier. With Brabham from 1982 to ’85, the company clinched eight Formula One victories and one world title, courtesy of Nelson Piquet in 1983. Following a final win with Benetton in 1986, BMW were absent from F1 competition until 2000 when they began supplying engines to Williams, taking 10 victories over the following five years.
In 2006 the company took over the Sauber team and enjoyed a positive first season as a fully-fledged works entry, finishing fifth in the constructors’ championship, with two podium finishes. The team went from strength to strength in 2007, occupying the ‘best of the rest’ slot behind Ferrari and McLaren. Scoring in all 17 races, BMW Sauber eventually finished second in the standings, behind Ferrari.
Last year, the team became championship contenders, with driver Robert Kubica clinching the team’s first pole position in Bahrain and then a maiden win at the Canadian Grand Prix. However, they have found the going a lot tougher this season and have scored just eight points to date.
source[www.f1.com]
The news came at a press conference held at the company’s German headquarters in Munich, attended by BMW Sauber team principal Mario Theissen, along with Dr. Norbert Reithofer, the chairman of the BMW board, and Dr. Klaus Draeger, the director for development.
BMW became Formula One entrants in 2006 after taking over the Swiss Sauber team. The company said the decision to withdraw stems from a desire to dedicate more resources to developing new, sustainable road car technologies.
“Of course, this was a difficult decision for us,” explained Reithofer. “But it’s a resolute step in view of our company's strategic realignment. Premium will increasingly be defined in terms of sustainability and environmental compatibility. This is an area in which we want to remain in the lead. Our Formula One campaign is thus less a key promoter for us."
Paying tribute to Theissen’s leadership of BMW Sauber, who finished third in last year’s championship, Reithofer added: “Mario has been in charge of our motorsports program since 1999. We have scored a large number of successes in this period, including some in Formula One racing. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mario Theissen and his team for this.”
Theissen commented: "Of course, we, the employees in Hinwil and Munich, would all have liked to continue this ambitious campaign and show that this season was just a hiccup following three successful years. But I can understand why this decision was made from a corporate perspective. We will now focus sharply on the remaining races and demonstrate our fighting spirit and put in a good result as we bid farewell to Formula One racing.”
BMW’s original Formula One involvement began in the 1980s as an engine supplier. With Brabham from 1982 to ’85, the company clinched eight Formula One victories and one world title, courtesy of Nelson Piquet in 1983. Following a final win with Benetton in 1986, BMW were absent from F1 competition until 2000 when they began supplying engines to Williams, taking 10 victories over the following five years.
In 2006 the company took over the Sauber team and enjoyed a positive first season as a fully-fledged works entry, finishing fifth in the constructors’ championship, with two podium finishes. The team went from strength to strength in 2007, occupying the ‘best of the rest’ slot behind Ferrari and McLaren. Scoring in all 17 races, BMW Sauber eventually finished second in the standings, behind Ferrari.
Last year, the team became championship contenders, with driver Robert Kubica clinching the team’s first pole position in Bahrain and then a maiden win at the Canadian Grand Prix. However, they have found the going a lot tougher this season and have scored just eight points to date.
source[www.f1.com]
#5
07-29-2009, 09:55 AM
I just read that article and almost fell out of my chair. They've been in and out so maybe if things ever get settled within the FIA (doubt it) they will be back. Hate to see them go though
#6
07-29-2009, 10:34 AM
They will probably be away from F1 for some time. The last time they left (at the end of the turbo era) coincided with the company's most significant growth period. When they came back, it was a PR move, but when your tagline is "the ultimate driving machine" and you campaign a car that gets you your a** handed to you on a regular basis ... well, that's just bad marketing.
Pulling out of F1 is a good move.
Pulling out of F1 is a good move.
#8
07-29-2009, 11:38 AM
They'll be back, maybe not soon, but as history shows BMW will be back to F1. I feel like Kubica will either find a place with one of the new teams, maybe go to Brawn, or begin a career in rallying. No matter what, he's extremely talented and will find something for him out there. Heidfled better get into sports car racing if he wants to keep a career in motor racing.
#9
07-29-2009, 05:37 PM
That is terrible. I have a feeling that they will come back though. I read about it here Formula One news: Official: BMW to leave F1 at end of 2009 - GPUpdate.net Formula One
I hope they come back.
I hope they come back.
#10
07-29-2009, 05:40 PM
They will probably be away from F1 for some time. The last time they left (at the end of the turbo era) coincided with the company's most significant growth period. When they came back, it was a PR move, but when your tagline is "the ultimate driving machine" and you campaign a car that gets you your a** handed to you on a regular basis ... well, that's just bad marketing.
Pulling out of F1 is a good move.
Pulling out of F1 is a good move.