View source for BMW in Formula One

[[File:Kubica canada.jpeg|thumb|right|[[Robert Kubica]] crosses the finish line to win the {{F1|2008}} [[Canadian Grand Prix]]. This is the only [[Formula One]] race that BMW has won as a full work (factory backed) team.]]

'''[[BMW]]''' has been in '''[[Formula One]]''' since the beginning of the World Drivers' Championship in {{F1|1950}}. BMW entered several races in the 1950s and 1960s. Often, they ran using the [[Formula Two]] rules. In the 1980s, they built the BMW M12/13 [[Inline-four engine|inline-four]] [[Turbocharger|turbocharged]] engine. This engine was built for the [[Brabham]] team. [[Nelson Piquet]] won the {{F1|1983}} championship driving a Brabham-BMW. BMW also supplied the M12/13 engine to the [[ATS (wheels)|ATS]], [[Arrows]], [[Benetton Formula|Benetton]] and [[Ligier]] teams. In {{F1|1988}}, Brabham left F1 for the {{F1|1988}} season, and BMW stopped its official backing of the engines. Arrows still used the engine with the [[Megatron (engine)|Megatron]] name. When Formula One banned turbocharged engines in {{F1|1989}}, the M12/13 could no longer be used.

BMW returned to Formula One in {{F1|2000}}. They made a deal to supply engines to only the [[WilliamsF1|Williams]] team. The engine was a new [[V10 engine]]. The engine deal with Williams ended after the {{F1|2005}} season. BMW then bought the rival [[Sauber]] team. The [[BMW Sauber]] project lasted from {{F1|2006}} until {{F1|2009}}. Sauber, a former privateer team, became more competitive. In {{F1|2008}}, [[Robert Kubica]] won the team's only race, the [[Canadian Grand Prix]], with [[Nick Heidfeld]] finishing second. After the 2009 season, BMW withdrew from F1. They sold the team back to its founder, [[Peter Sauber]].

== Entries in the 1950s and 1960s ==
[[File:MitterG-BMW-F2-1969-08-01.jpg|thumb|right|[[Gerhard Mitter]] was killed as a result of crashing his [[BMW]] 269 [[Formula Two]] car during practice for the {{F1|1969}} [[German Grand Prix]].]]

The early years of the [[List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions|World Drivers' Championship]] saw private BMW racing cars, based on the pre-war [[BMW]] 328 chassis. They were entered in the [[German Grand Prix|German Grands Prix]] in {{F1|1952}} and {{F1|1953}}. A modified 328 with a rear engine became standard in Formula One in the early 1960s. It was known as the "Heck", the [[German language|German]] automotive term for "back" or "rear". This design later found success with the [[Cooper Car Company|Cooper]] team.<ref>{{cite web |last=Diepraam |first=Mattijs |title=The BMW-derived specials that appeared in war-struck Germany |publisher=Haymarket Publications |work=forix.autosport.com |url=http://forix.autosport.com/8w/germanf2.html |date=May 1999 |access-date=2010-03-27}}</ref>

In {{F1|1967}} German Grand Prix, BMW entered [[Hubert Hahne]] in a [[Lola Cars|Lola]] chassis powered by an larger BMW engine, and [[David Hobbs (racing driver)|David Hobbs]] in the Lola with the standard smaller BMW engine. For the {{F1|1968}} German Grand Prix, Hahne returned and finished tenth, BMW's best result in Formula One to that date. BMW then entered three of its own 269 F2 chassis for the {{F1|1969}} German Grand Prix for Hahne, [[Gerhard Mitter]] and [[Dieter Quester]]. Mitter was killed in a practice accident. The remaining BMW team withdrew from the race.<ref>{{cite web |last=Diepraam |first=Mattijs |title=The last of the German locals |publisher=Haymarket Publications |work=forix.autosport.com |url=http://forix.autosport.com/8w/d-locals.html |date=June 2001 |access-date=2010-03-27}}</ref> BMW left F1 for a number of years.

==Engine supplier==
=== Brabham, ATS, Arrows, Benetton and Ligier (1982–1988) ===
[[File:Bernie Ecclestone.jpg|thumb|right|[[Bernie Ecclestone]], the team principal of [[Brabham]], signed a deal with BMW for a supply of M12/13 engines in 1980.]]

In {{F1|1977}}, [[Renault F1|Renault]] entered Formula One with a [[Turbocharger|turbocharged]] engine. After the success Renault had, BMW decided to develop its own turbo engine. BMW announced the new program in April 1980.<ref name="MSpg44">Doodson (2009), p. 44.</ref> The engine was based on the BMW M10, a four-cylinder, 1.5&nbsp;litre, normally aspirated (non-turbocharged) engine designed in the late 1950s. The racing version, the M12, had been successful in Formula Two and other series.<ref>Bamsey ''et al.'' (1988), p. 49.</ref> The prototype 1.4&nbsp;litre turbo engine soon developed 600&nbsp;[[Horsepower|bhp]]. It used a single Kühnle, Kopp & Kausch (KKK) turbocharger,  Bosch electronics, and fuel injection. This engine was developed into the M12/13, the race engine BMW supplied to five teams from 1982 to 1988.<ref name="1000pg50">Bamsey ''et al.'' (1988), p. 50.</ref>

BMW first made a deal to supply the M12/13 engine only to the [[Brabham]].<ref name=1000pg50/> Testing of the M12/13 started in late 1980. A new car, Brabham BT50 was design for the engine. The new car was not finished until will into the {{F1|1981}} season. The team's lead driver, [[Nelson Piquet]], tested the BT50 throughout 1981. The car was unreliable until Bosch improved the electronics.<ref name=MSpg44/>

Brabham began the [[1982 Formula One season|1982 season]] with two BMW-powered BT50 chassis. Because of reliability problems, the BT50 was not used at all the races that year. BMW saw their first win in {{F1|1982}} [[Canadian Grand Prix]], where the cool conditions helped the turbocharged engine. The BT50 was used for the rest of the season. The car was still unreliable, and the drivers only made four finishes the rest of the season.

In {{F1|1983}}, the reliability of the BMW engine was improved. The new Brabham BT52 allowed [[Nelson Piquet]] to win the Drivers' Championship. Brabham finished third in the Constructors' Championship. BMW also began supplying its engines to the German [[ATS (wheels)|ATS]] team this season. [[Manfred Winkelhock]], the only driver for the team, was unable to score any points.

For {{F1|1984}}, BMW expanded to three teams, supplying the M12/13 to [[Arrows]]. In {{F1|1985}}, BMW was back to two teams. ATS had left Formula One. Piquet won one race, the {{F1|1995}} [[French Grand Prix]]. It was the only win for BMW that year.

[[File:Gerhard Berger 1986 Detroit.jpg|thumb|right|[[Benetton Formula|Benetton]] was the only other team that was supplied with the M12/13 to win a race.]]

For the [[1986 Formula One season|1986 season]], BMW was back to three teams with the addition of [[Benetton Formula|Benetton]]. Benetton had the most success, scoring 19 points, and winning the [[Mexican Grand Prix]]. In {{F1|1987}}, BMW only supplied Brabham with works engines. Arrows and [[Equipe Ligier|Ligier]] used the "Megatron", a rebadged BMW engine. At the end of the year, Benetton team owner [[Bernie Ecclestone]] decided not to compete the following year. This ended the BMW turbo engine. The Arrows team still used the "Megatrons" engine for {{F1|1988}}. They finished fifth in the Constructors' Championship, their best finish in the team's 25-year history.

For {{F1|1989}}, the technical regulations were changed to ban turbocharged engines. During the M12/13 engine's time in F1, the engine had won the 1983 Drivers' Championship and nine Grands Prix. It also took 14 pole positions and set 13 fastest laps.

=== Williams (2000–2005) ===
{{see|WilliamsF1}}

Williams had been very successful using [[Renault F1|Renault]] engines. They won the {{F1|1992}}, {{F1|1993}}, {{F1|1996}} and {{F1|1997}} Drivers' Championships. They also won the {{F1|1992}}, {{F1|1993}}, {{F1|1994}}, {{F1|1996}} and {{F1|1997}} Constructors' Championships. When Renault left F1 at the end of 1997, Williams needed a new engine. In {{F1|1998}}, the BMW signed a contract to supply the [[WilliamsF1|Williams]] team with engines.

BMW spent 18 months building and testing a normally aspirated, 3.0&nbsp;litre [[V10 engine]]. The E41 engine was ready to race in the [[2000 Formula One season|2000 season]]. The Williams FW22 with the BMW E41 engine was driven by [[Ralf Schumacher]] and [[Jenson Button]]. Schumacher scored a podium finish in the engine's first race. The team finished the year with two more podium finishes, and third in the Constructors' Championship.

For {{F1|2001}}, BMW designed a more aggressive P80 engine. The engine had a big power improvement. Schumacher and new team-mate [[Juan Pablo Montoya]] scored four race wins. For {{F1|2002}}, the team won only one race with Schumacher at the [[Malaysian Grand Prix]]. Montoya took seven pole positions, but was not able to win a single race.

[[File:Ralf Schumacher Indianapolis 2003.jpg|thumb|right|The most successful year of the BMW-[[WilliamsF1|Williams]] collaboration was {{F1|2003}}, but still resulted in neither championship being won.]]
The Williams team was more competitive in {{F1|2003}}. Both drivers won on two time. For {{F1|2004}}, Williams produced the FW26 chassis with a radical nose section. This design did not work very well. Williams slipped to fourth in the Constructors' Championship. Montoya's victory in the [[Brazilian Grand Prix]] the team's only win (and the team's final win to date). Both Schumacher and Montoya left the team at the end of the season.

{{F1|2005}} was the final year of Williams using the BMW engine. The team continued to be less competitive. None of the team's drivers were able to win a race. By this time, BMW was upset with Williams. BMW thought the engine was able to win, and the Williams chassis was the problem. BMW offered to buy Williams outright. They wanted to gain overall control of its Formula One efforts. Frank Williams would not sell the team. BMW chose to buy the rival [[Sauber]] team instead for {{F1|2006}} and end its deal with Williams.

==BMW Sauber==
{{see|Sauber}}
{{Infobox former F1 team
|Short_name    = BMW Sauber
|Long_name     = [[BMW Sauber F1 Team]]
|Logo          =  |
|Base          = [[Munich]], [[Germany]] |
|Founders      = [[Mario Theissen]]
|Staff         = [[Mario Theissen]]<br />[[Peter Sauber]]<br />[[Willy Rampf]]
|Drivers = {{flagicon|GER}} [[Nick Heidfeld]]<br />{{flagicon|POL}} [[Robert Kubica]]<br />{{flagicon|GER}} [[Sebastian Vettel]]<br />{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Jacques Villeneuve]]
|Constructors  =
|Engines       = [[BMW]] P86/9
|Debut         = [[2006 Bahrain Grand Prix]] |
|Races         = 70
|Cons_champ    = 0 (Best finish: 2nd - [[2007 Formula One Season|2007]])
|Drivers_champ = 0 (Best finish: 4th - [[Robert Kubica]], [[2008 Formula One Season|2008]])
|Wins          = 1
|Podiums       = 16
|Poles         = 1
|Fastest_laps  = 2
| Last race = [[2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix]]
}}
BMW bought [[Switzerland|Swiss]] team [[Sauber]] in June 2005 to form the '''BMW Sauber F1 Team'''. The takeover came after BMW's relationship with Williams had deteriorated in the previous months, the partnership ending at the end of the {{f1|2005}} season. The team was based at Sauber's headquarters in [[Hinwil]], [[Switzerland]] and BMW's headquarters in [[Munich]], [[Germany]].

The team scored two podium finishes and came fifth in [[2006 Formula One Season|2006]], its first season in Formula One. This was followed by a second place in [[2007 Formula One Season|2007]] after the McLaren team had been excluded from the championship. [[Poland|Polish]] driver [[Robert Kubica]] took the team's only Grand Prix victory at the [[2008 Canadian Grand Prix]]. Following a poor {{f1|2009}} season, BMW withdrew from Formula One and sold the team back to founder [[Peter Sauber]].

===2006===
For the [[2006 Formula One season|2006 season]], BMW Sauber signed [[Nick Heidfeld]] from [[WilliamsF1|Williams]] to be the lead driver, while {{F1|1997}} World Champion [[Jacques Villeneuve]] had his existing two-year contract with Sauber honoured. [[Robert Kubica]] was signed as the team's [[third driver]]. The team continued to use Sauber's facilities, mostly for chassis construction and wind tunnel testing, while BMW's headquarters in Munich were responsible for building the new 2.4 litre P86 [[V8 engine]], revised technical regulations forcing a change from the 3 litre [[V10 engine|V10]] formula. This replaced the [[Petronas]]-badged Ferrari engines which the team had used since 1997. The Sauber team's existing major sponsors, Petronas and [[Credit Suisse]], renewed their contracts with BMW. The team also announced a technical partnership with technology company [[Intel]].<ref>{{cite news|title=BMW nets Intel sponsorship|publisher=BBC Sport|work=news.bbc.co.uk|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4530750.stm|date=2005-12-15|access-date=2008-04-14}}</ref> The team's new livery, which was maintained throughout its tenure in Formula One, consisted of the traditional BMW blue and white with a hint of red.

[[File:Nick Heidfeld Hungaroring.jpg|thumb|left|[[Nick Heidfeld]] took the team's first podium finish at the [[2006 Hungarian Grand Prix]].]]

Villeneuve scored the team's first points with a seventh-place finish at the [[2006 Malaysian Grand Prix|Malaysian Grand Prix]], after Heidfeld retired from fifth with an engine failure late in the race. Over the first two thirds of the season the drivers picked up points with a succession of seventh and eighth-place finishes, plus a fourth-place finish for Heidfeld at the [[2006 Australian Grand Prix|Australian Grand Prix]]. The team ran a radical "twin towers" aero enhancement on the front of the car for the [[2006 French Grand Prix|French Grand Prix]], which was meant improve the flow of air over the top of the chassis.<ref>{{cite news|title=Villeneuve sets Magny Cours pace|publisher=BBC Sport|work=news.bbc.co.uk|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/5180074.stm|date=2006-07-15|access-date=2008-04-14}}</ref> The parts were promptly banned by the [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile]] (FIA) as they were adjudged to impede the drivers' vision and thus compromise safety.<ref>{{cite news|title=BMW ordered to remove nose fins|publisher=BBC Sport|work=news.bbc.co.uk|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/5214166.stm|date=2006-07-26|access-date=2008-04-15}}</ref>

Heidfeld scored the team's first podium finish at the [[2006 Hungarian Grand Prix|Hungarian Grand Prix]] from tenth on the grid. This race also saw the début of [[Robert Kubica]], who replaced Villeneuve after the latter had crashed heavily at the preceding [[2006 German Grand Prix|German Grand Prix]]. Kubica finished seventh, although he was later disqualified after his car was found to be underweight. The official reason for Villeneuve's absence was that he was recovering from his previous accident, but the team later announced that the driver change was permanent.<ref>{{cite news|title=It's the end of the road for Villeneuve|publisher=The Times|work=timesonline.co.uk|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,5923-2302408,00.html|date=2006-08-07|access-date=2008-04-15|location=London}}{{Dead link|date=October 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Kubica scored BMW Sauber's second podium finish of the season at the [[2006 Italian Grand Prix|Italian Grand Prix]], after running in third place for most of the race and leading briefly during the first round of pit stops. Heidfeld finished in eighth, but set the team's first fastest lap. The team scored a total of 36 points to finish fifth in the Constructors' Championship, an improvement on Sauber's eighth position with 20 points in {{F1|2005}}.

===2007===
[[File:Nick Heidfeld 2007 Canada.jpg|thumb|right|Heidfeld took BMW Sauber's best result of {{F1|2007}} with second place at the [[2007 Canadian Grand Prix|Canadian Grand Prix]].]]

On 19 October 2006, BMW announced that [[Robert Kubica]] would partner [[Nick Heidfeld]] for the [[2007 Formula One season]] with Sebastian Vettel taking the test and reserve driver role. [[Timo Glock]] was later signed as the team's second test driver.<ref>{{cite news| title =Glock signed as BMW second driver| publisher =Grandprix.com| url =http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns17888.html| date =21 December 2006| access-date =2006-12-21}}</ref> The team launched its 2007 car, the [[BMW Sauber F1.07|F1.07]], on January 16, 2007.<ref>{{cite news| title =The new BMW F1.07| publisher =Grandprix.com| url =http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns17947.html| date =16 January 2007| access-date =2007-01-16}}</ref>

The new car showed promising form throughout winter testing, topping the times sheets on occasions. However, team principal [[Mario Theissen]] declared some reliability concerns before the season's opening race in [[2007 Australian Grand Prix|Australia]]. Kubica retired from fourth place with a gearbox problem, but Heidfeld took over the position and held it to the end of the race. In the early races of the season, Heidfeld and Kubica scored a series of points finishes and established BMW Sauber as the third-fastest team, behind [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] and [[McLaren]]. Theissen also made the point that the performance gap between BMW Sauber and the two top teams was less than the gap between BMW Sauber and the teams behind it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/5984.html|title=Interview with Mario Thiessen|archive-date=22 April 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070422081439/http://www.formula1.com/news/5984.html}}</ref>

The [[2007 Canadian Grand Prix|Canadian Grand Prix]] brought mixed fortunes for the team. While Heidfeld scored BMW Sauber's best result thus far with a second-place finish, Kubica suffered a huge crash that resulted in a long safety car period. The media was initially told Kubica had broken his leg, but it later proved that he had escaped with only a sprained ankle and concussion.<ref name="Kubica escapes injury after crash">{{cite news| title =Kubica escapes injury after crash | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/6739431.stm| publisher =BBC| date =10 June 2007| access-date =2007-06-10}}</ref> Vettel took his place in the [[2007 United States Grand Prix|United States Grand Prix]], finishing in eighth place and therefore becoming the youngest driver to score a Formula One World Championship point. Later in the season, Vettel moved teams to take a race seat at the [[Scuderia Toro Rosso|Toro Rosso]] team.

Kubica returned to racing action at the [[2007 French Grand Prix|French Grand Prix]] and proved his recovery by finishing in fourth position. Over the remainder of the season, he and Heidfeld continued their form to score a total of 101 points, which secured the team second in the Constructors' Championship after McLaren's disqualification. Heidfeld scored another podium finish at the [[2007 Hungarian Grand Prix|Hungarian Grand Prix]] and scored 61 points to Kubica's 39, while Vettel's sole appearance produced an additional point.

===2008===
[[File:Robert Kubica 2008 Canada 2.jpg|thumb|right|The [[2008 Canadian Grand Prix|Canadian Grand Prix]] saw [[Robert Kubica]] win his and BMW Sauber's first race.]]

On August 21, 2007, BMW confirmed its driver line-up of [[Nick Heidfeld|Heidfeld]] and [[Robert Kubica|Kubica]] for the {{F1|2008}} season.<ref>{{cite news| title =Heidfeld and Kubica stay at BMW | work = [[BBC News]]| url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/6956299.stm| date =21 August 2007| access-date =2007-08-21}}</ref>
Their 2008 car, the [[BMW Sauber F1.08|F1.08]] was officially launched in [[Munich]] at BMW Welt on January 14, 2008. It made its track debut at Valencia the next day, with Robert Kubica driving. Team principal [[Mario Theissen]] set the target of the team's first win.

BMW Sauber started the season well with Kubica narrowly missing out on pole after a mistake in his main qualifying lap in [[2008 Australian Grand Prix|Melbourne]]. He later retired after being hit by [[Kazuki Nakajima]] but Heidfeld finished second. Kubica took second in [[2008 Malaysian Grand Prix|Malaysia]], with Heidfeld in 6th setting the fastest lap of the race. The team's points total of 11 was their largest score up to that time. In [[2008 Bahrain Grand Prix|Bahrain]], Kubica scored his and the team's first ever pole position, beating [[Felipe Massa]] by just under three hundredths of a second. The team went on to finish 3rd and 4th in the race, equalling their highest round points total and promoting them to first place in the constructors' championship for the first time.

The team also attained a second-place finish in the [[2008 Monaco Grand Prix|Monaco Grand Prix]] with [[Robert Kubica]], beating both Ferraris and only trailing the [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]] of [[Lewis Hamilton]] by three seconds.

BMW Sauber's first race victory came in the [[2008 Canadian Grand Prix]], the team achieving a one-two finish with Robert Kubica's first race win and Nick Heidfeld taking second place. The victory came after Lewis Hamilton collided with Kimi Räikkönen in the pitlane, ending the race for both drivers. Kubica was on a different refueling strategy from Heidfeld, who also briefly led the race before securing the one-two finish for BMW Sauber in comfortable fashion.

After the team's breakthrough win, development was switched to the 2009 season where new regulations come into play. This greatly annoyed Kubica, (who was leading the championship after the Canadian Grand Prix), as he felt they could have had a realistic chance of taking at least one title. The lack of development was reflected with a drop of form throughout the second half of the season, causing BMW to be outpaced by Renault, Toyota and even Toro Rosso (who started the season as one of the slowest teams) by the end of the season. Despite this, Kubica remained with an outside chance of taking the drivers championship until the Chinese Grand Prix, the 17th round out of 18.

In October the team confirmed that they would stick with [[Robert Kubica]] and [[Nick Heidfeld]] as their drivers for the {{F1|2009}} Season.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7654412.stm Kubica and Heidfeld stay with BMW]''BBC Sport''. Retrieved 8 October 2008. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126183207/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7654412.stm |date=2009-01-26 }}</ref>

===2009===
[[File:Nick Heidfeld 2009 Singapore.jpg|thumb|right|The poor performance of the [[BMW Sauber F1.09|F1.09]] chassis contributed to BMW's withdrawal from Formula One at the end of the season.]]

Although BMW Sauber targeted the {{F1|2009}} season as the year they would challenge for the title, their start to the season was a disappointment. Kubica was running in 3rd place in the [[2009 Australian Grand Prix|opening round]] when he collided with Vettel while battling for 2nd place and was forced to retire. Heidfeld then secured the team's first podium of the year in [[2009 Malaysian Grand Prix|Malaysia]], but after 6 races BMW Sauber had collected a mere 6 points, and occupied 8th place in the Constructors' Championship out of 10 teams. A raft of upgrades were set for [[2009 Turkish Grand Prix|Turkey]], including an improved [[Regenerative brake|regenerative braking]] system (KERS) and a double deck diffuser. While the new diffuser was implemented, the KERS could not be made to fit the new car and both drivers raced without the device. After the qualifying session for the [[2009 British Grand Prix|British Grand Prix]] Mario Theissen announced that the team had decided to halt further development KERS; of which BMW had been one of the strongest proponents, and focus instead on improving the car's aerodynamics. This left Ferrari and McLaren as the only remaining users of the KERS system. In the [[2009 European Grand Prix|European Grand Prix]] at Valencia [[Robert Kubica]] scored the team's first points since the race in Turkey.

Following a meeting of the BMW board on July 28, the company held at press conference the following morning in which it confirmed the team's withdrawal from Formula One at the end of 2009. Chairman Dr [[Norbert Reithofer]] described the decision as a strategic one.<ref>{{cite web|last=Noble|first=Jonathan|title=BMW will quit F1 at the end of 2009 |publisher=[[Haymarket Group|Haymarket]]|work=autosport.com|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77400|date=29 July 2009|access-date=2009-07-29}}</ref> The [[Formula One Teams Association]] released a statement in response pledging its support to help the team remain in F1.<ref>{{cite web|last=Perillo|first=Simone|title=Statement by FOTA Secretary General|publisher=[[Formula One Teams Association]]|work=teamsassociation.org|url=http://www.teamsassociation.org/press-release/2009-07-29/statement-fota-secretary-general|date=29 July 2009|access-date=2009-07-29|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100722081936/http://www.teamsassociation.org/press-release/2009-07-29/statement-fota-secretary-general |archive-date = July 22, 2010}}</ref>

On 15 September 2009 it was announced that BMW Sauber had secured a buyer, [[Qadbak Investments Limited]] which said to represent European and Middle Eastern interests. However [[Lotus F1 Racing|Lotus]] had been given the 13th and final slot in the 2010 Championship.  The team were awarded what was termed a 14th entry, which hinges either on another team dropping out or all the other teams agreeing to allow 28 cars to enter the 2010 Championship.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8256739.stm |title=BMW F1 team secures Swiss buyer |publisher=BBC News |date=2009-09-15 |access-date=2011-08-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78656 |title=BMW expects team to race in 2010 |publisher=Autosport.com |access-date=2011-08-10}}</ref>

On November 22, Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung revealed that Qadbak's attempt to purchase the team had failed as it did not have the necessary funds. Qadbak turned out to be a [[Shell (corporation)|shell company]] with no assets and no investors behind it.<ref>[http://www.sonntagszeitung.ch/home/artikel-detailseite/?newsid=108305 SonntagsZeitung], 2009-11-22</ref> On November 27, 2009 it was announced that [[Peter Sauber]] would repurchase the team conditional upon the team receiving a FIA entry for the 2010 season.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80350 | title = BMW sells F1 team back to Peter Sauber | publisher = Haymarket Publications | work = autosport.com | author =  Pablo Elizalde | date = 27 November 2009 | access-date = 2009-11-28}}</ref>  The FIA subsequently granted Sauber an entry on December 3.<ref>{{cite news|last=Noble|first=Jonathan|title=Sauber secures 2010 Formula 1 slot|publisher=[[Haymarket Group|Haymarket Publications]]|work=autosport.com|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80429|date=2009-12-03|access-date=2009-12-03}}</ref> The team used [[Ferrari]] engines in {{F1|2010}}.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78822 | title = Theissen confirms Ferrari engine deal | publisher = Haymarket Publications | work = autosport.com | author = Jonathan Noble and Matt Beer | date = 24 September 2009 | access-date = 2009-09-24}}</ref>

The team retained the BMW Sauber name for the {{f1|2010}} season, despite using [[Ferrari]] engines.

==References==
===Books===
* {{cite book |last=Bamsey |first=Ian |others=Benzing, Enrico; Lawrence, Mike; Staniforth, Allan |title=The 1000 BHP Grand Prix Cars |url=https://archive.org/details/1000bhpgrandprix0000bams |publisher=Guild Publishing |year=1988 |location=London |isbn=978-0-85429-617-0}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Hamilton |editor-first=Maurice |title=[[Autocourse]] 1981-82 |publisher=Hazleton Publishing |year=1981 |location= Richmond |isbn= 978-0-905138-17-6}}

===Journals===
* {{cite journal |last=Doodson |first=Mike |date= Nov 2009 |title= Piques & troughs: BMW in Formula 1 |journal=[[Motor Sport (magazine) |Motor Sport]] |volume=85 |issue=11 |pages=42–51}}
* {{cite journal |last= Straw |first= Edd |date= July 2008 |title= Reaching for the Ultimate Goal |journal=[[Autosport]] |volume= 193 |issue= 5 |pages= 32–38 }}

===Footnotes===
{{reflist|2}}

== Other websites ==
{{commons|BMW Sauber}}
* [http://www.bmw-sauber-f1.com/ BMW Sauber F1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060118044453/http://www.bmw-sauber-f1.com/ |date=2006-01-18 }}
* [http://bmw-motorsport.com/ms/en/index.html BMW Motorsport] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218172326/http://bmw-motorsport.com/ms/en/index.html |date=2009-02-18 }}

{{Sauber}}
{{Formula One constructors}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bmw In Formula One}}
[[Category:Formula One constructors]]
[[Category:Formula One engine manufacturers]]