Sauber still a part of BMW?

[Born Racer]

Anyone know why Sauber is still in the team name? I thought they were phasing it out and that it'd be gone by now.

[Down F0rce]

It's to do with sponsorship or something, anyone have more details than that?

Peter Sauber is still a consultant with the team I think, and I belive he still owns a small share...

[FPV GTHO]

I didnt think they'd "phase out" anything from Sauber, but continue to provide resources and build from the base. Theyre still in Hinwil, Switzerland afterall, and i believe the majority of the Sauber staff are still there.

[Born Racer]

Presumably the name remaining is more than just the legacy of the old Sauber team, the fact they still have many Sauber personnel etc. They might be funded in some way by Peter Sauber to still use the name, because wouldn't BMW just want ideally to be called BMW? (It's not a situation like McLaren-Mercedes where, with all due respect to Sauber, the team name carries a certain prestige and can be worth retaining for that reason.)

As I said, I thought this season the Sauber bit was supposed to be gone. Also, on a related note, does anyone know why when BMW supplied Williams with engines, there was a time when the screen caption read BMW-Williams? I read that it was a mistake of some kind, and I thought the team name always goes first and the engine supplier's second.

[touringlegend]

BMW were more than an engine supplier to Williams though.

Sometimes this season Williams are referred to as AT&T Williams.

[mountainstar]

I remember reading an interview with Thiessen and he said they were going to keep the name because of the history behind it. It's not going anywhere.

[Alan Raine]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

I remember reading an interview with Thiessen and he said they were going to keep the name because of the history behind it. It's not going anywhere.

That's good. A bit of respect to the teams roots. (It may of also been written into the contract when Sauber was sold to BMW).

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

BMW were more than an engine supplier to Williams though.

Even so, McLaren are always McLaren-Mercedes, and in 2005 BAR was always BAR-Honda.

Sometimes this season Williams are referred to as AT&T Williams.

Thats just the equivalent of Scuderia Marlboro Ferrari or Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.

[Fish_Flake]

I always heard that the main reason Sauber's name is still on the team is because of Credit Suisse's sponsorship deal, whose contract stipulates retaining the Sauber name.

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

Also, on a related note, does anyone know why when BMW supplied Williams with engines, there was a time when the screen caption read BMW-Williams? I read that it was a mistake of some kind, and I thought the team name always goes first and the engine supplier's second.

Because they were entered as "BMW WilliamsF1 Team", but Williams was still the constructor and BMW the engine supplier. Thus, the constructor's table correctly reads "Williams BMW".

[Patrick Fletche]

If they just called it "BMW" they would have to fit rubbish brakes, strut front suspension and non functioning indicators.

[TWRv12]

Its great they have kept the name so far, but if they start winning, how long will it last?

[broadrun96]

As long as Dr Thiessen is in charge, the name Sauber will remain in the name. He has said numerous times the reason for the BMW Sauber name was to honor one of the great privateers in racing. And he is still somewhat involved with the team too as a consultant.

[OVERSTEER]

Originally Posted by Patrick Fletche

If they just called it "BMW" they would have non functioning indicators.

Unless the drivers don't know how to use them!!

[Teretonga]

I think the Credit Suisse sponsorship suggestion, Theissen's attitude to it and the practical situation, that if they don't do well it can dilute some of negativity....

It is based in switzerland so keeping the Swiss on side by using the name also gives more than just a corportate identity to the team. I like it.

[Satorian]

The Credit Suisse explanation makes sense. Although with this year's performance they shouldn't have any trouble attracting new sponsors, so we'll see whether they switch to a BMW-only team name in the future.


I think the BMW-Sauber and McLaren-Mercedes crossover is an interesting one though. In the nineties McLaren built sports cars with BMW engines and Sauber built them with Mercedes engines.
Today in F1, McLaren belongs to Mercedes and Sauber has been bought by BMW.


Is this one of these "grass is greener on the other side" things? Silly world.

[Mr V]

Doesn't Peter Sauber still own 20% or something?

[Fletcher]

Originally Posted by Satorian

I think the BMW-Sauber and McLaren-Mercedes crossover is an interesting one though. In the nineties McLaren built sports cars with BMW engines and Sauber built them with Mercedes engines.
Today in F1, McLaren belongs to Mercedes and Sauber has been bought by BMW.

In addition to that you could even say the BMW Sauber factory in Hinwil was originally built (funded at least) by Mercedes Benz. The original plan was to have a Mercedes factory team run by Sauber in F1 in the same way that in Group C and the new plant was built for that reason. Because of the recession they finally opted to come to the sport as engine suppliers only.

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by Mr V

Doesn't Peter Sauber still own 20% or something?

I think so, its something around that number.

[EERO]

Originally Posted by FPV GTHO

Even so, McLaren are always McLaren-Mercedes, and in 2005 BAR was always BAR-Honda.



Thats just the equivalent of Scuderia Marlboro Ferrari or Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.

They were called BMW Williams because BMW. in additon to being the engine supplier were the major sponsor of the team.

[Knowlesy]

Yes, it was all part of BMW's marketing strategy.