Sauber get customer BMW engines from 2006

[Kicking-back]

Frank Williams told journalists at his pre-season lunch that BMW will supply customer engines to Sauber from 2006.

[Sodemo]

Whoo Hoo! Ferrari's stooges become Williams' stooges

[BootsOntheSide]

The difference is that Sauber having a car of equal quality to Williams in 2006 isn't inconcievable. Williams should be worried by this - who's to say that a long term Sauber-BMW alliance might leave them sidelined? Considering their resources and drivers, they have showed much more potential in the last 3 years than their more illustrious rivals.

[Super Tourer]

From www.autosport.com

Williams is set to lose its exclusive use of BMW power-plants from the start of next season, with the Grove-based team revealing on Tuesday that its German technical partner has decided to supply customer version of its engine to the Swiss Sauber team.

Speaking to journalists during a pre-season lunch, Williams revealed that he had been fully-informed by BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen of the decision and made it clear that his team would remain as the company's number one outfit.
Hmm, could put Williams under more pressure to deliver, Sauber's Willy Rampf is ex BMW and still well connected there, the Germanic synergy could prove interesting.

[BSchneiderFan]

Very interesting development. Sauber-BMWs on Michelins, hmm... I wonder if this has any implications on the driver front.

Also have to say that "Sauber-BMW" rings a bell.

[Knowlesy]

Well done Peter Sauber!

[Rich R]

sauber give hope to other smaller teams that it is still possible to not just keep your head above water, but actually improve your situation in modern f1.

[Inigo Montoya]

Hmmm. Going from Ferrari to BMW engines does not seem like much of an improvement to me

[Super Tourer]

Originally Posted by Inigo Montoya

Hmmm. Going from Ferrari to BMW engines does not seem like much of an improvement to me

I can see what you mean....but I think Sauber probably feel a bit subserviant in their relationship with Ferrari.

As I posted earlier, Sauber's Will Rampf is ex- BMW and still well connected there, so it should be a better 'relationship' for the team.

This must get the Williams design team fretting, as it will also gives BMW another benchmark.

[raul_iulian]

Well done Peter Sauber! Hands up for PS

[luke]

Sauber BMW. Sounds great.

[touringlegend]

The name does have a nice ring to it, but wouldn't they be badged Petronas as per the current set up ?

[Silk Cut Jaguar]

Sauber siding with the GPWC and then announcing BMW engines...

Good to hear though, no doubt BMW will treat them as a technical partner rather than simply another customer. I suspect price might have come into Mr. Saubers thinking aswell, what's the going rate for a BMW engine? $10-15m?

[Dani Filth]

it sounds familiar . Sauber C6 .. i think had beemer engine .
well . maybe PS is hoping the change will get them forward .
they had Ferrari engine since when ?? . 97 ?? . so that makes 8 years . yeah . maybe it's time for a change . and i hope they do well .. i

[Dutton]

So they have discarded Bridgestones and a technical partnership with Ferrari.

Well, obviously they are wanting big changes because they were unhappy with what they had. Good luck to them, although I am still unconvinced they have made the right moves.

It'll be intersting to see, changes like this always add that bit more intrigue (at least for the first season or two).

[mac]

Don't everybody get your knickers in a knot.

This is merely BMW falling into line with GPWC's notion of engine manufacturers supplying two teams. Check the story closely.

Williams are in no threat of losing their engines.

Though the mere fact of another rival (this time with the same power) entering the frey is perhaps worrying for the team.

[Redlake27]

BMW have run a great driver development programme recently with Formula BMW and Touring Cars.I hope that this brings back the prospect of a BMW Junior Team, such as the one that fostered such talent in the early 80s

[Jordi]

It's not really an improvement or a loss in terms of performance, I can't recall a lot of BMW engine blow-ups in the past few years.
Sauber haven't said anything yet. It would be a blast if a Sauber (preferably driven by JV) regularly finished ahead of the Williamses in 2006...

[Dutton]

Originally Posted by mac

Don't everybody get your knickers in a knot.

This is merely BMW falling into line with GPWC's notion of engine manufacturers supplying two teams. Check the story closely.

Williams are in no threat of losing their engines.

Though the mere fact of another rival (this time with the same power) entering the frey is perhaps worrying for the team.

Who was fretting that Williams might lose their engine supply? It seems you have identified (non-existent) unnecessary panic from forumers, and then in your explanation to ease this "panic" as to what the real situation is have gone on to say exactly what other people had already said.

I may well be missing something that has been said by others, so please do inform me if I am confused.

[Kirk]

Originally Posted by Super Tourer

I can see what you mean....but I think Sauber probably feel a bit subserviant in their relationship with Ferrari.

As I posted earlier, Sauber's Will Rampf is ex- BMW and still well connected there, so it should be a better 'relationship' for the team.

This must get the Williams design team fretting, as it will also gives BMW another benchmark.

Some good points there ST. I'm quite curious as to why FW makes the announcement. Is it his way of affirming their number one status with BMW? It rubs me the wrong way, whatever the reasoning. I would bet that Peter Sauber would have preferred delaying this announcement until the current F1 season had ended.

[mac]

Originally Posted by Dutton

Who was fretting that Williams might lose their engine supply? It seems you have identified (non-existent) unnecessary panic from forumers, and then in your explanation to ease this "panic" as to what the real situation is have gone on to say exactly what other people had already said.

I never referred to a "panic". Just the general gist I got from some posts, indicating that the pressure was on Williams to perform or they may suffer some adverse consequences (ie. losing engines).

[senna12]

Judging by recent comments regarding Williams' problems in the technical department, admitted by Patrick Head, perhaps BMW is coming to realize they may not achieve championships with this team. When you look around at the available options, Saubers technical facilities and efficient operations are the best choice for BMW.

[courageous]

So Sauber will still have the same spec engine as Ferrari this year, right?

[Kicking-back]

Yes they will.

[Super Tourer]

SFW will obviously put a brave face on it and affirm their status, but he know's that bolting the same engine onto a car from team with unrealised potential and state of the art facilities will put pressure on his team. There will also be a 'Germanic synergy' between the team, I would guess they operate in similar ways. One alleged critcism levelled at Williams, is that their partnership with BMW has been a bit 'arms length' and neither is getting the best out of it as a result.

Particularly unfortunate that he announces it on the same day he admits they have problems with their new car - again, leading to a slow start to the year - again.