"F1 braced for BMW exit announcement" - Autosport

[flat-planedCrank]

"F1 braced for BMW exit announcement

BMW's future in Formula 1 is in serious doubt tonight amid mounting speculation that the German car manufacturer will announce its withdrawal from the sport at the end of this season, on Wednesday."

Rest of article - http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77398

[dpbird90]

Just been reading that, I'm not sure why they would pull out though. Fair enough they're having a shocking year this year, even though they were aiming for a full on title challenge. There is definitely potential with the team, Heidfeld might be into his twilight years, he's been around for a long time but with not a lot of success, but they have a future champion in Kubica, they have one of the biggest budgets in F1; I see no reason for them to exit, if they persevere they'll win races by the end of the year. The only thing I can think of is a massive disagreement with the FIA, but all FOTA teams have been in the same boat. Hmmm...

[Derek Smith]

So one would assume the concord agreement has precipitated this. BMW had to come to a decision and this is it.

It's a shame.

Still, I expect we'll get the CA signed once the press release goes out.

[zac510]

dpbird90 said:

I see no reason for them to exit, if they persevere they'll win races by the end of the year.

It strikes me as a Honda-like exit strategy.

[Fire99]

I guess it depends on whether they are in it for the long haul or whether their future is determinied by ongoing short term results.

It's not unusual for a team to have some poor years and then bounce back but it takes focus from the team and a principal with great confidence and ability to sell that to the bigwigs paying the bills.

My guess would be that BMW pull out since I don't think F1 is that important to their business model either.

[deevlash]

If thats true its a shame for peter sauber who sold out to ensure long term security for his team.

[Racefan_uk]

dpbird90 said:

Just been reading that, I'm not sure why they would pull out though.

I think you've answered your own question right here...

dpbird90 said:

they have one of the biggest budgets in F1

That's precisely the reason! It's getting too expensive. The road car business is on its knees and manufacturers will be doing everything to save money. They'll either can the F1 or the WTCC ptoject, most likely F1 as the WTCC at least has road car merit.

dpbird90 said:

I see no reason for them to exit

Apart from the fact that they are probably fed up with spending this much money and not winning world championships after this amount of time?

[T89 Callan]

deevlash said:

If thats true its a shame for peter sauber who sold out to ensure long term security for his team.

Hopefully the team will survive without BMW.

To be honest I prefer F1 without the OEM Factory teams, seeing Brawn on top this year and Williams moving towards the front again has re-invigorated my interested in F1.

[EDLT]

Racefan_uk said:

dpbird90 said:

They'll either can the F1 or the WTCC ptoject, most likely F1 as the WTCC at least has road car merit.

Just sticking with WTCC may be a bad idea, if the BTCC move from S2000-spec cars to NGTC-spec works out then WTCC could follow leaving BMW without a car to race because RWD is banned from NGTC-spec cars. This could all happen five years down the line, so its better to stick with F1 imo.

[dpbird90]

EDLT said:

Racefan_uk said:

dpbird90 said:

They'll either can the F1 or the WTCC ptoject, most likely F1 as the WTCC at least has road car merit.

Just sticking with WTCC may be a bad idea, if the BTCC move from S2000-spec cars to NGTC-spec works out then WTCC could follow leaving BMW without a car to race because RWD is banned from NGTC-spec cars. This could all happen five years down the line, so its better to stick with F1 imo.

Yeah thats a good point, BMW will never do their own FWD car (I'm not counting the Mini for all you pedantics up this early/late!) so if NGTC spec goes ahead thats WTCC in the toilet. F1 is the biggest motorsport showcase on earth, the perfect place to advertise your road cars. Fair enough, currently nobody will buy a BMW because of their F1 performances, but if they pull out the brand exposure is less. The biggest problem I can see is that because Bernie keeps raking in the money from circuits out in the middle east, we're losing some of the "classic" races, for example, we now have no races in North America at all, and that is the biggest market for the car manufacturers, BMW & Mercedes probably moreso than the others. I don't know what BMW will do next, but they'd best be in a top motorsport championship, its in the company's DNA. They mustn't do a Subaru, who probably wouldn't exist any more if it wasn't for WRC (and the legend of Colin McRae), but last year they ended their WRC campaign. If BMW don't do motorsport, it would be like going to Pizza Hut and NOT having a pizza. Sounds weird but the point is there

[The Hypno-Toad]

I know no one on here will believe me but I was told by a member of another team that BMW would quit at the end of the year, in January.

I'm pretty sure I did post this on here but looks like he had a very good source.

[Alfie Noakes]

My bet is that they are going to announce Ned is going to shave nis moustache off for charity.

[900T-R]

German mag AutoBild also notes 'from reliable sources' that BMW won't be on the grid in 2010: http://www.autobild.de/artikel/formel-1-bmw-steigt...

Edit: apparently official statement from BMW scheduled for 10.00h CET today...

Edited by 900T-R on Wednesday 29th July 08:04

[belleair302]

The cost of KERS has hurt BMW, and remember the company is majority owned and controlled by one family who are very careful with their money.

F1 is in a mess and BMW don't want the costs when their brand and manufacturing is all about road cars not race cars.

BMW don't need F1, they are racing in the ALMS with some success and also in the ELMS with an Alpina M6. Sportscars and diesels are the future for BMW regarding sales and maybe some serious rally raids with the X6.

[hairyben]

They SERIOUSLY had better not cite economic reasons. After the budget-cap driven FOTA/spanky standoff and the breakaway threat max would be a) "I told you so, F1 needs me and the teams need me to save them from themselves" and consequently b) re-affirm his clout in the FIA and possibly delay his exit/bolster his "chosen" successors chances.

[freedman]

dpbird90 said:

; I see no reason for them to exit, if they persevere they'll win races by the end of the year.

They have shown nothing at all to suggest theyll even be close to the pace let alone win races this season

[Redlake27]

Who would buy an F1 team?

With rumours that Renault are going to sell too, and with the new slots on the grid taken by three of the ambitious hopefuls that could have been buyers for the two teams, the value of the Enstone and Hinwil facilities is pretty low (certainly lower than the days when Jordan sold to Midland/Spyker)

The two teams aren't going to be bought by Lola, Litespeed or Prodrive who have their own thwarted F1 ambitions, but already have manufacturing capability.

[10 Pence Short]

The Hypno-Toad said:

I know no one on here will believe me but I was told by a member of another team that BMW would quit at the end of the year, in January.

I'm pretty sure I did post this on here but looks like he had a very good source.

I caught the tail end of the story on the radio this morning, but didn't hear who it was. I assumed BMW because, looking at the state of their car this year, it would have made much more sense to abandon development of it altogether and concentrate on next year like Honda did, if they were considering competing next year.

The fact that they're still throwing resources at it suggests they're trying to get the best return on this year's car without worrying too much about next year.


You could of course put the same points against McLaren and Ferrari, but I would say their resources are far greater than BMWs, not to mention F1 is both those teams, so to be seen to be at the front is important every year, even if it takes half a season to get there.

[Dan_1981]

BBC reporting it aswell also looks like Bernie expects them to pull out

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula...

[plg101]

Redlake27 said:

Who would buy an F1 team?

With rumours that Renault are going to sell too, and with the new slots on the grid taken by three of the ambitious hopefuls that could have been buyers for the two teams, the value of the Enstone and Hinwil facilities is pretty low (certainly lower than the days when Jordan sold to Midland/Spyker)

The two teams aren't going to be bought by Lola, Litespeed or Prodrive who have their own thwarted F1 ambitions, but already have manufacturing capability.

I wonder what the contract with Peter Sauber was (aside from using his name) - maybe a buy back clause - or just pass him the lot in exchange for him taking the liability?