Bye-bye, BMW

RayM

From Autosport:

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.

A bit of a shocker if it's true. :eek:

Frank Bullitt

I really hope its not true and its a different announcement,maybe to supply customer engines?

EvilMonkey

Just read it, i wonder if this is whats holding up the new Concorde signing.
The problem with manufactures when there struggling they pull out.
Will they do a Honda and look for a buyer rather than wind up?

RayM

At least we'll know early in the morning (press conference at 10am). If it is true, it's good that the announcement is being made now, rather than at the end of the season, thus leaving plenty of time for a Ross Brawn type (or even a Peter Sauber...) to step in, buy the team for a pittance and save it.

amacachi

It's confirmed now according to autosport.

Sure is great having the big manufacturers around eh?:rolleyes:

thegoth

Not one to say I told you so. Big motor companies and drink giants are only is F1 for as long as its suits them. Its not their core business ( actually its not their business at all as their teams don't have to turn a profit ).

This is why we need private teams and proves that the massive cost cutting agenda is the way to go.

I think Renault may be next, followed by Toyota

amacachi

thegoth wrote: »

Not one to say I told you so. Big motor companies and drink giants are only is F1 for as long as its suits them. Its not their core business ( actually its not their business at all as their teams don't have to turn a profit ).

This is why we need private teams and proves that the massive cost cutting agenda is the way to go.

I think Renault may be next, followed by Toyota

Big +1 on all of that. Now that Toyota haven't gone anywhere with what they had at the start of the season I think we can expect them to be looking over their shoulders.

Charlie-Bravo

Slightly off topic, and apologies about it, So out go BMW, but who will make up the 13th team on the grid in 2010? Someone who buys this team or none at all?! And maybe Lola can become an entry...

vectra

astrofluff wrote: »

Slightly off topic, and apologies about it, So out go BMW, but who will make up the 13th team on the grid in 2010? Someone who buys this team or none at all?! And maybe Lola can become an entry...

Lola with Adam Carroll behind the wheel

vincenzolorenzo

Typical. :mad: As soon as things start getting tough out go the manufacturers. Who'll go next??? While he caused a civil war in F1 mosley was on the right track trying to get more privateers in.

thegoth

Just watch in amount of people jumping on the Mosley cost cutting band wagen now. Some of us have been on it from day one

Mosley has done alot of good work in F1. in terms of safety and costcutting. I think history will judge him very kindly

vincenzolorenzo

Absolutely, i reckon you're dead right. The problem with mosley has been than he always rammed home his agenda without enough dialogue with the teams. Well that was certainly the case this year anyway. I know that in the past its been notoriously difficult to get the teams to agree to anything and someone needed to just make a decision and run with it but I think he could have avoided a lot of strife this year if he handled the teams and FOTA a bit better

Frank Bullitt

Back to the privateers it seems

thegoth

LIGHTNING wrote: »

At the rate is going at the moment we may all have to chip in for a boards.ie team!

I call Team Principle

hi_sir

isnt it amazing as some one said earlier there just there as long as it suits them and then drop it like a hot spud ,what would it have been like if teams like Jordan,tyrell,TWR,minardai,sauber small private teams that were the back bone of the sport in the late 90's untill the big money manufactures breezed there way in,great to see Brawn put it up to the big boys this year but if we had half a grid of smaller teams would cost cutting have been brought in and maybe have left the sport a more even playing feild

thegoth

Thats why we NEED cost cutting measures of better still, budget caps. Its give the small teams a realistic chance of a podium or even a win. Formula 1 is two tier at the moment. You have the teams that dont or are not expected to turn a profit, then you have Force India, Toro Rossa, Williams and Brawn (next year. This year they had Honda cash)

The rest are expensive billboards on wheels for their parent companies

tommiejoie

I would expect to see Peter Sauber take control of the hinwil operation again, and continue into next season. Possibly with BMW engines provided they'll be willing to manufacture them. Though BMW's reliability record isnt great this season.

EvilMonkey

thegoth wrote: »

Thats why we NEED cost cutting measures of better still, budget caps. Its give the small teams a realistic chance of a podium or even a win. Formula 1 is two tier at the moment. You have the teams that dont or are not expected to turn a profit, then you have Force India, Toro Rossa, Williams and Brawn (next year. This year they had Honda cash)

The rest are expensive billboards on wheels for their parent companies

We dont need budget caps, we do need to reduce costs.
Are BMW pulling out because F1 is too expensive or because being at the back of the grid is too damaging for there brand? of course they will blame the costs.

What is needed is a new Concorde guaranteeing commitment for multiple years and new agreements signed before the old one expires with procedures for teams to pull out if they wish that also give time for others to come in.

Lets not forget that the FIA played a part in driving small teams out charging massive bonds to enter as well as the massive budgets the big teams had.

hi_sir

honda back of the grid last year BMW this year a trend id say

what about David Richards would he and Prodrive be in the frame for a buy out as they missed out on a place on the grid for next year

GTE

astrofluff wrote: »

Slightly off topic, and apologies about it, So out go BMW, but who will make up the 13th team on the grid in 2010? Someone who buys this team or none at all?! And maybe Lola can become an entry...

If BMW pull out Sauber will still be there wont it?
I thought it was Sauber with BMW engines rather then a full on BMW team.

Personally I always liked Sauber, it would be a great shame to see them go.

RayM

I can't see David Richards buying the team, because they're based in Switzerland and it would be a logistical nightmare to move the whole operation to Prodrive's headquarters in England. Hopefully, BMW will at least have the decency to do what Honda did and make a major effort to save the team.

Personally, I'm kind of glad that the manufacturer era seems to be drawing to a close, and I wouldn't shed any tears if Renault and Toyota were next out the door either. If Toyota had any sense, they'd sell their team and devote all their resources towards winning the championship as an engine supplier instead.

EvilMonkey

Will Ferrari get their wish to run 3 cars? Sign Alonso and not breach Massa or Kimis contracts. :eek:

thegoth

EvilMonkey wrote: »

We dont need budget caps, we do need to reduce costs.
Are BMW pulling out because F1 is too expensive or because being at the back of the grid is too damaging for there brand? of course they will blame the costs.

What is needed is a new Concorde guaranteeing commitment for multiple years and new agreements signed before the old one expires with procedures for teams to pull out if they wish that also give time for others to come in.

Lets not forget that the FIA played a part in driving small teams out charging massive bonds to enter as well as the massive budgets the big teams had.

Thats my point, which is that Manufacturers and energy drinks companies will pull out when it no longer suits them to be in F1. Those reasons can be fininicial, image based, or some other reason

tifosi 1

BMW leaving is not at all suprising. I don't think it has anything to do with cost cutting or F1 politics. BMW Sauber were given 4 years to win the title or BMW were pulling their support. This season ain't going so well and BMW are jumping ship. BMW is just repeating what they did to Williams a couple of years ago.

EvilMonkey

BMW cant even quit without being overshadowed!