BMW to quit F1 at end of season

[Ecco]

BMW will withdraw from Formula 1 at the end of this season.

The German car manufacturer, who took over Sauber in 2005, have cited "current developments in motor sport" as the reason for their pull-out.

Full article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8173865.stm

 

[Serqet]

Damnit the link wont open on my side.

God that's awful. What the hell does "current developments in MS" mean?

 

[BCO]

Full article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8173865.stm

As much as I like F1, this is awesome news:

They will instead devote resources to the 'development of new drive technologies and projects in the field of sustainability'.

 

[Serqet]

So they need to quit f1 in order to do that? It doesn't really make much sense.

 

[BCO]

So they need to quit f1 in order to do that? It doesn't really make much sense.

Well, yes. Global recession + massive F1 operating budget = less funds to do other technical development.

 

[Ecco]

world is in recession, looks like they tightening up on their spending

 

[Serqet]

Perhaps but other teams aren't pulling out and they are in the middle of the same recession. Think there is more to the story than what's being said.

 

[Ecco]

I thought they were a pretty decent team. Kubica did well for them last year.

 

[Ecco]

Perhaps but other teams aren't pulling out and they are in the middle of the same recession. Think there is more to the story than what's being said.

Honda already pulled out.

 

[Thestealth]

Full article

BMW will withdraw from Formula 1 at the end of this season.

The German car manufacturer, who took over Sauber in 2005, have cited "current developments in motor sport" as the reason for their pull-out.

BMW are the second major manufacturer to leave the sport in eight months after Honda's withdrawal in December.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said BMW had given themselves three years to win the world championship, but they have only amassed eight points this season.

"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."

BMW, who currently have Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld as their drivers, held a meeting on Tuesday where they made the decision to quit the sport.

They will instead devote resources to the 'development of new drive technologies and projects in the field of sustainability'.

"Of course, this was a difficult decision for us, but it's a resolute step in view of our company's strategic realignment," said Dr Norbert Reithofer, chairman of the Board of Management of BMW.

"Premium will be increasingly defined in terms of sustainability and environmental compatibility. This is an area in which we want to remain in the lead.

"We are continually reviewing all projects and initiatives to check them for future viability and sustainability.

"Our Formula One campaign is thus less a key promoter for us."

BMW's takeover of Sauber in 2005 saw them enter their own team in 2006 and in their debut season they were fifth in the constructors' championship before being promoted to second in 2007 after the exclusion of McLaren-Mercedes.

They put up a strong challenge in 2008 but ended up third behind Ferrari and McLaren-Mercedes.

Their only grand prix win as BMW Sauber came when Polish driver Kubica won in Canada in 2008, while he also achieved the team's only pole position with his qualifying effort in Bahrain in 2008.

BMW motorsport director Dr. Mario Theissen added: "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 first entered Formula 1 as an engine supplier to Brabham in 1982 and the first victory of the pairing came in 1983 when Nelson Piquet won in Brazil on the way to claiming the drivers' crown.

But BMW pulled out as an engine supplier in 1987 before returning in 2000 as engine partners to Williams.

The duo were together for six years and ended up as constructors' championship runners-up in 2002 and 2003, while winning 10 grands prix and taking 17 pole positions.

 

[SirFooK'nG]

They pretty much fell flat on their faces in F1. They at one time had the strongest engine by a mile, but did nothing with it.... Maybe thats all they should concentrate on in the future!

 

[LCBXX]

Perhaps they can get back into sports cars - they're doing quite well in WTCC. Very few manufacturers, apart from Ferrari, have made success in F1 as team oweners.

 

[killadoob]

BMW just suck at the moment, Not very good for their products when their f1 cars struggle to finish 15th

 

[Ecco]

BMW just suck at the moment, Not very good for their products when their f1 cars struggle to finish 15th

Yeah, not really good for the image of their road cars, but they cant really be compared.

 

[HapticSimian]

I wouldn't be surprised to see them in a similar situation to Brawn this year - stay on the grid with a new name, new engine supplier & some lifeline money from BMW. Maybe Peter Sauber will step back in, or perhaps it could be the gap for Prodrive to find their way onto the grid next year...

 

[Smooth Criminal]

Perhaps but other teams aren't pulling out and they are in the middle of the same recession. Think there is more to the story than what's being said.

But how many of the teams that will be left actually mass produce road cars as well?

Honda is out, BMW is out, leaving only Toyota and Ferrari. And most of Ferrari's revenue is generated via motorsport, not via their road cars so they don't really count anyway.

 

[SirFooK'nG]

you forgot Renault and McLaren Mercedes ....

 

[Smooth Criminal]

you forgot Renault and McLaren Mercedes ....

Sorry forgot Renault. McLaren is the team, Mercedes is just the engine supplier so they don't really cont either. If Mercedes stop supplying then McLaren would source another engine supplier.

 

[SirFooK'nG]

Sorry forgot Renault. McLaren is the team, Mercedes is just the engine supplier so they don't really cont either. If Mercedes stop supplying then McLaren would source another engine supplier.

They have more of a relationship than just engine supplier, McLaren SLR is a joint venture. But then I suppose it is just a mutual beneficial relationship. McLaren also did their F1 supercar with BMW back in the 90's.

 

[Kompete]

Better to pull out of F1, then to pull out of South Africa