BMW Sauber name likely to remain

[Dare]

Maybe BMW is paying a little to not change the name.How much
time and thought could it take to change the name from
BMW Sauber to just Sauber as it was



31 January 2010 / Photos


Peter Sauber has said that the official name for his team is likely to remain the same as the start of the season draws ever closer. The Hinwil-based outfit is still entered for this year's championship as 'BMW Sauber F1 Team', despite the German car manufacturer having pulled out of the sport at the end of last year.


 
 
With Team Principal Sauber having brought his team to Formula 1 for 1993, the Swiss businessman eventually sold his squad to BMW at the end of 2005, with the Munich company electing to keep 'Sauber' label in its name. Now, with Peter the full owner of the team once again, the BMW branding looks unlikely to disappear.

"It is not planned (to change) before the start of the season," he explained at the launching of the new C29 car in Valencia on Sunday afternoon. "We have entered the 2010 season as BMW Sauber and that is the name."

With the recent tumultuous months having left Peter with little time to discuss a name change with F1 governing body the FIA, is engine provider Ferrari likely to disagree with the BMW mark? "No - it's okay for most," Sauber added.

[Jericoke]

If one were feeling conspiratorial, one might suspect that the FIA likes having the BMW name associated to help add legitimacy to the sport as a whole.  That's two teams with a car name, but not owned by a car company. 

One might also expect that the Campos team will be replaced by Toyota Stefan.

[John S]

I think it's more about retaining the higher race numbers and therefore the priveleges that go with them, like money and pits garage position. BMW's finishing position last year gives them 10 & 11 but as Toyota vacated 8 & 9 Sauber would move up.

BMW Sauber F1 is an existing team, If they apply for name change they will end up at 26 & 27 as they will be classified as a new entrant so losing the money that comes from Bernie for the points gained in 2009.



 

[cosworth151]

It reminds me of 2005. Midland bought Jordan but, due to some FIA red tape, had to run under the Jordan name for the 2005 season.