bbc5 live reporting bmw have agreed to buy sauber

[bradenc]

bmw has probablt offerd 270 for sauber

[Mike_P]

Originally Posted by bradenc

bmw has probablt offerd 270 for sauber

yes, racing-live.com is reporting the bbc story
http://f1.racing-live.com/en/index.h...10225459.shtml

[VilleneuveTracy]

I hope this is true. BMW can provide the financial backing that Sauber needs to become a solid contender.

[BSchneiderFan]

Yet Autosport's website is carrying a denial of the story. Time will tell, I suppose.

[Silk Cut Jaguar]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Yet Autosport's website is carrying a denial of the story. Time will tell, I suppose.

There will be denials right up until the ink is dry.

[GTRMagic]

But which bit is BMW buying? The part the banks own that have no voting rights, or the little bit Mr Sauber owns that has all the voting rights??

Or both?

Is there any noise on the web as to whether Mr Thiessen is a continuing employee of BMW?? Its his genitalia on the line in the Williams vs Sauber boardroom discussions

[DannyG]

I hope BMW do buy out Sauber and spend the rest of there F1 career being non acheivers. They should have stuck with Williams, fair enough they have struggled in recent years but history suggests they will rise to the top again.

Williams/Toyota combination to win in 2006

[Snrub]

This would probably explain the harsh words Williams and BMW have exchanged. You wouldn't say that kind of stuff unless it was all over.

On the upside this gives Williams a chance to run a Hyundai branded Cosworth for 2006. (actually that would be pretty cool)

[ASCII Man]

Williams Hyundai... Even the sound of it is terrible!

[Dixie Flatline]

or Williams-Lexus?!

[JeremySmith]

Williams-Cosworth works don't you think? Williams-Lexus on the other hand does not, just my opinion

[Logrence]

I'm surprised at BMW wanting to run their own team this late in the game - it'll all end in tears.

[senna12]

Perhaps Jenson can bundle himself up with Honda and present themselves to Sir Frank. If Honda covered Jens' salary as well, it would be a bonus. They could also buy BAR completely, then run a program similar to their arch rival Toyota . Unfortunately, they don't have 35 billion sitting in the bank to make it happen they way Im sure they would want it to.

As for BMW, what they would need at Sauber is engineers who better understand how to make use of their wind tunnel and that mega-computer that controls it. The fact that Sauber has the basic necessary infrastructure, and is noted for it's efficiency, should appeal to them. Much cheaper than starting from scratch, like BAR or Toyota.

[Mike_P]

Originally Posted by Snrub

On the upside this gives Williams a chance to run a Hyundai branded Cosworth for 2006. (actually that would be pretty cool)

Does Hyundai even have enough money to put their name on the side of an F1 car? It might be a good opportunity for VW/Audi to get into F1, if they are interested.

Originally Posted by DannyG

Williams/Toyota combination to win in 2006

I can't image Toyota selling engines to a team that will likely beat them when they are spending several hundred million dollars (or pounds or euros) each year trying to win races.

[Hugh Jarce]

Doesn't look good for Williams - all the big engine boys seem to be moving to take their 'balls' / engines away and playing elsewhere.

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by Mike_P

I can't image Toyota selling engines to a team that will likely beat them when they are spending several hundred million dollars (or pounds or euros) each year trying to win races.

Agreed, which is why i can't see this happening either.....

Originally Posted by senna12

Perhaps Jenson can bundle himself up with Honda and present themselves to Sir Frank. If Honda covered Jens' salary as well, it would be a bonus.

[GTRMagic]

Why couldnt Williams go to somebody like Komatsu (who were a sponsor/technical partner in the mid-90's) for sponsorship of the Cosworth engine

A Williams-Komatsu... sounds kinda tough really

[Sodemo]

Surely Williams-Toyota would be the best from a performance point of view?

[BootsOntheSide]

Which is why Toyota won't let it happen. If Williams run identical engines there is no guarantee that Toyota would beat them, whcih would take a lot of the gloss off their recent progress. Cosworth might be the only otpions, and that has risks associated with it.

I think Sauber are ideal to be bought by a big team, ebcause they have all the right facilities in place, they just need a bit more money and manpower to get the most out of them, whcih BMW should have. The situation with Williams was never going to produce a winning car, and it seems like running the whole team yourself is the mroe successful long-term approach these days.

[nkh]

Williams-Ferrari? Ferrari has an engine for sale, but can Williams pay for it?

[Dick Spanner]

Let's hope the lack of a "factory" engine doesn't put them on the same road as Jordan.

[Logrence]

Toyota are going to be supplying Midland next year...Toyota are already working with Dallara on the chassis.

[N I Tram]

Good move from BMW here - Sauber have everythign they need, and Williams currently don't appear to. That partnership has reached the stage where a clean break is needed for both parties - in Williams' case full Cosworth backing might work out well.

[Logrence]

Bit pricey, though, isn't it? Jordan went for less than £20m - what makes Sauber much different?

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by nkh

Williams-Ferrari? Ferrari has an engine for sale, but can Williams pay for it?

Ferrari are supplying RBR with engines next year,Toyota will probably supply Jordan as pointed out by Logrence.Minardi will run this seasons V10 in downtuned form leaving Cosworth with a V8 doing nothing but dyno runs.Honda or Toyota would not want Williams beating their mostly in-house teams.So unless Williams stick with BMW,Cosworth would seem to be favourite.