RE: BMW confirms Sauber buy-out
Discussion
Good timing for Sauber to finish their new wind tunnel earlier this year ...
It's a no brainer really.
Switzerland and Munich are geographically close, Sauber have all the facilities (now) but without enormous financial overheads to the same degree as other teams. Credit Suisse hold a lot of shares that they were always planning to sell over time - so the cost can be budgetted nicely by the BMW board.
Reduced language and cultural barriers.
I guess having Heidfeld driving simply was not enough for 'german' for them. That and the view that engines are no longer important (as the press quote suggests).
Odd that, others still seem to think that engines are important.
It's a no brainer really.
Switzerland and Munich are geographically close, Sauber have all the facilities (now) but without enormous financial overheads to the same degree as other teams. Credit Suisse hold a lot of shares that they were always planning to sell over time - so the cost can be budgetted nicely by the BMW board.
Reduced language and cultural barriers.
I guess having Heidfeld driving simply was not enough for 'german' for them. That and the view that engines are no longer important (as the press quote suggests).
Odd that, others still seem to think that engines are important.
Abosultely LongQ - Peter Sauber has been working hard ot make the team attractive to 2 german suitors - VAG and BMW. When the former made it clear that they did not want to spend the sort of sums required in F1, he knew that BMW might be interested. I;m sure that BMW have some chunky funding lines with Credit Suisse already - might as well keep it all in-house...
Did anyone else notice what I thought was a rather purposeful two fingers up at BMW by Williams at the FoS? In the F1 paddock, most teams had a new(ish) and old car on display. The Williams team had an FW-11 (I think it was) on display with the engine cover off, very prominently displaying the Honda emblazoned cam covers. 
toppstuff said:
Am I the only one who thinks Williams are a tad overrated?
It occurs to me that there past successes were attributable to a time when it was possible to have a vast difference between the competitiveness of engine manufacturers, and when even variables in fuel and tyres were greater than they are now.
To me, Williams are nothing special. They do not have a monopoly on fine engineering and organisation, for that is common across the paddock now. And they do not have a divine right to be successful.
Looking at Williams right now , I see a mediocre outfit with an average chassis and an OK engine, and average drivers as well.
I am not surprised that BMW gave up on them. BMW must have wondered if they could do better in the long term if they had complete control. And I don't blame them.
I think you are right.
I stopped supporting Williams when they dumped Damon Hill. Dropping Mansell after his World Championship win was stupid. Doing the same thing to Damon Hill was crass.
Quite simply - f**k em.
I've supported our local Surrey boys ever since.
tinman0 said:
[quote=toppstuff]
I think you are right.
I stopped supporting Williams when they dumped Damon Hill. Dropping Mansell after his World Championship win was stupid. Doing the same thing to Damon Hill was crass.
Quite simply - f**k em.
I've supported our local Surrey boys ever since.
Mansell wanted huge bucks to drive for Williams at a time when Senna was known to want a move - FW always greatly admired Senna.
They had already given Hill his notice at the end of the 1995 season, but I agree that their basis for his dismissal could be viewed as flawed as he delivered the championship to them in 1996. Mind you, the distinctly average JV proved in 1996 and 1997 that Williams' car did 80% of the job for the driver (just as it did in 1992, 1993 and 1994).
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