F1 F1 braced for BMW exit announcement ?!

[Remy Zero]

BMW To Quit F1 After 2009 Season

Can't believe no one posted this yet :

BMW has announced it is to quit Formula 1 at the end of the 2009 season, as AUTOSPORT predicted last night. The news was confirmed at a press conference in Munich this morning, and comes on the back of a disappointing campaign for the outfit.
Dr. Norbert Reithofer, chairman of the BMW board, said that the decision was made after a refining of the company's future strategy.
"Of course, this was a difficult decision for us. But it's a resolute step in view of our company's strategic realignment," he said.


"Premium will increasingly be defined in terms of sustainability and environmental compatibility. This is an area in which we want to remain in the lead. In line with our Strategy Number ONE, we are continually reviewing all projects and initiatives to check them for future viability and sustainability. Our Formula 1 campaign is thus less a key promoter for us.
"Mario Theissen has been in charge of our motor sports program since 1999. We have scored a large number of successes in this period, including some in Formula 1 racing. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mario Theissen and his team for this."


BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen, who spearheaded the company's efforts as an engine supplier with Williams and then later with BMW Sauber, said he understood the reasons behind the withdrawal.
"Of course, we, the employees in Hinwil and Munich, would all have liked to continue this ambitious campaign and show that this season was just a hiccup following three successful years," he said. "But I can understand why this decision was made from a corporate perspective. We will now focus sharply on the remaining races and demonstrate our fighting spirit and put in a good result as we bid farewell to Formula 1 racing."
Dr. Klaus Draeger, member of the board who is responsible for development, said this season's poor results had played a part in the move to quit F1.


"It only took us three years to establish ourselves as a top team," he said. "Unfortunately, we were unable to meet expectations in the current season.
"Nevertheless, our ten years of Formula 1 experience have had a major impact on our development engineers. We have racing to thank for numerous technological innovations as well as the competitive spirit that drives us to develop mass-produced cars."

 

[martinbo]

What a waste, what loosers. They built an extremely interesting and promising team, they invested so heavily in it, they earned the respect of everyone and always got their targets met,they ****** up only one year and that's it ? FFS you are supposed to be the team that care about motorsport, the team that proves that constrctors are not only here for marketing, that role was supposed to be Toyota's role and look how it has turned out ? What about all this repeated "F1 is cheap for what it offers" ? I am telling you, i am done with THIS BMW.

You have to love the passion in this post.

Disappointing development for Formula 1 and for BMW.

 

[martinbo]

You didn't really look then did you?

 

[SCOTT27]

As I said before BMW will certainly not be the last manufacturer to pull out because in the current economic climate everyone is reassessing their commitment to side line programmes away from your core manufacturing base. F1 is hugely expensive for what it is and what it has become , and ultimately it can be a drain on finances and resources if you are not winning , removing F1 from it's strategy will allow BMW to focus on it's car division and especially on Post-recession ideas that have been prevented because of other commitments.

F1 technology and the automotive division has been running side by side for a number of years with many developments from the F1 side of things being adapted for the automotive decision. The KERS technology has proved to be successful in the application of Road cars and although no longer associated with F1 , It will be a feature of "Efficient Dynamics"
And although KERS has not proved the winning combination in the F1 programme it has been successfully adapted for road car use, although testing continues but the synergies between the two has produced an effective system for road car use.

To announce unlogical comments that the BMW 5er Gran Turismo will kill BMW shows how far you do not understand BMW as a car company - A company that has over the years progressed but as a company BMW is especially financially healthy , realigning the company allows the capital reserved for the F1 programme to be diverted to other programmes within the company either product development , engineering , project-i and marketing. When you invest in something that does not rate the return you expected something has to give. As I said before manufacturers will be reassessing their side programmes in order to save and generate more money , do not think that BMW is the only F1 bombshell because other manufacturers who have been greatly affected by the downturn will be next especially if the situation gets any worse both on and off the track.

 

[Zafiro]

BMW's gone, who's next?

BMW's gone, who's next?


The news that BMW will quit F1 at the end of the 2009 season will send a chill wind blowing through the five-star corridors of the sport, inevitably calling into question the future plans of both Toyota and Renault in the longer term.

The news from Munich was certainly no surprise, coming barely six months since Honda quit the sport and sold their operation to Ross Brawn for a nominal fee. It’s too early to say whether the Sauber F1 operation at Hinwil – the Swiss core of the BMW F1 operation – will be spun off into a private team again in the same way, but the clear signal coming from Munich is that you just can’t rely on the major car manufacturers to have an open-ended commitment to the Grand Prix game.

Truth be told, one can see the whole texture and character of F1 changing significantly over the coming years. The fact that Jarno Trulli has been offered a one year extension to his Toyota contract raises inevitable speculation that they will follow rivals Honda out of the sport at the end of 2010.

Thankfully, Lewis Hamilton’s victory in Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix will have taken the sting out of any pressure for Mercedes to re-evaluate its F1 involvement, although their position is more complicated and deep rooted as they are shareholders in the McLaren group.

But, on the other hand, I would not like to risk a large amount of money betting that Renault stays in on an open-ended basis. Only as engine suppliers perhaps, as they have done in the past.

This is another signal that F1 needs to re-shape itself. It must continue and accelerate its initiatives to slash costs and re-trench into a more economically effective business. If that means a bunch of Cosworth-engined privateers making up the field, then so be it. Better that than a 14 car grid.

BMW's gone, who's next? - Motorsport

 

[siko]

Don’t blame them.

With the economy crisis, all the bullshit in F1, and no breakaway series… I would have done the same.

Hopefully this will snowball and destroy F1 as we know it (i.e. FIA/Max & Bernie's F1).

 

[Bartek S.]

I was expecting it happens. Athers will follow soon. F1 is completly destroyed.

 

[Wunderkind]

To announce unlogical comments that the BMW 5er Gran Turismo will kill BMW shows how far you do not understand BMW as a car company - A company that has over the years progressed but as a company BMW is especially financially healthy , realigning the company allows the capital reserved for the F1 programme to be diverted to other programmes within the company either product development , engineering , project-i and marketing. When you invest in something that does not rate the return you expected something has to give. As I said before manufacturers will be reassessing their side programmes in order to save and generate more money , do not think that BMW is the only F1 bombshell because other manufacturers who have been greatly affected by the downturn will be next especially if the situation gets any worse both on and off the track.

I am of the view that the 5-series GT will be an immense flop for BMW.

Let's have this conversation again in 2 years time.

 

[Remy Zero]

You didn't really look then did you?

Nope. I didn't see it. If i had, why would i start a separate thread?

 

[Poverty]

Watch and learn, we will not be the only car manufacturer.

yeah yeah, bmw always quit or moan when things arent going their way. Happens in formula one, happens in touring car racing. bmw always want to have their cake and eat it.

 

[Poverty]

BMW is going to have the "Loser" tag hung around its neck for the next ten years. They should tough it out like Toyota and Mercedes Benz. This is why I always held Mercedes at a higher regard.

Even in DTM in 1990's, BMW just quit when they could no longer beat Mercedes.

I'm sure they will also quit WTCC very soon because the front-wheel drive cars are running rings around them.

bmw were whining when the SEAT's were kicking their arses

bmw have always been sore loosers.

BMW = Super Loosers

 

[BMW///MPower]

This is realy sad news. To bad some people use this to be able to spill their guts about BMW.
It is a fact that the economical situation is not dood at this point and the disappointing results make it easier for a manufacturer to make this decision. But the disappointment this year is not the main reason and that is something lots of you are missing. Fo rHanda and Jaguar it was easy to pull out, the results were never good. BMW did a great job and improved every year except this one, and now that this falls together with the crisis they are stamped as losers . Ok I'm a big fan but I don't see it that way, besides the board of directors decides this, not the people who run the team, they just have to follow orders when it comes to these decisions. I just hope the people of the team will keep up the work they have been doing so far and show the non believers that BMW was going to get out of this bad situation. Of course I can understand their motivation is way below 0 at this point.
F1 will never be the same for me again, but I will still watch every race.

Concerning WTCC; difference between leader and the first BMW is 6 points, turning circles huh ?

 

[ateekt]

There must be some hidden facts & realities, yet to be known behind this decision! Sad news indeed!

 

[Merc1]

Its common sense....the reality is that it costs too much money for this day and time. No big mystery about it or some hidden reason.


M

 

[EnI]

The decision was instant. Made yesterday. Pressure from shareholders ... Cash reserves are running out, while F1 project is burning money with super speed. Board taleked to the Motorspot & F1 team directors, and decided F1 Racing isn't series anymore ... no consistent future foreseeable with all the FIA / FOTA fights ... Development plans are in the air - nobody knows what to develop - will it last for more than a single season ... Too much expenses due to constant rules changing.

If there will be a green-tech based racing series - a true lab for carmakers - then BMW will be ready to join that series.

F1 is a joke, and BMW have had it enough ...

No decision has been made what will happen to the team & its facility - either it will be sold, or used for other BMW Motorsport programs.

I'm afraid BMW decision will give some courage to the other carmakers as well (eg. Toyota & Renault) to quite F1. Especially Renault is under huge pressure - due getting government subsidies due huge losses, while pouring money in the dazzled F1 program at the same time.

 

[bmer]

Good riddance I say. F1 hasn't been the same for a long time. BMW has been spending hundreds of millions on sport that is now technically so restricted and yet out of touch with regular cars that it hasn't benefitted their road car development at all. (I can only guess what will be left of F1 when Mosley gets the inline-4 engines he wants...)
Even Le Mans 24 H (or Le Mans Series or American Le Mans Series) or DTM probably makes more sense for them.

 

[NarutoRamen]

Damn, some of you guys are getting mad as if you lost millions or something. Jeez. It's been said many times now, they are not leaving because they're sore losers but because F1 is too expensive and not stable enough for them to maintain it.

 

[Gene]

I've been a huge fan of the BMW Sauber Team since the start. Was quite disappointed this year with their poor performance. Regardless, I think they made the right decision if it means saving the jobs of several of its workers (including most of the Sauber staff and the actual BMW workers).

I know alot of people who are having an extremely tough time during this recession, and its the worst feeling know your on the out, unsure where to go, especially when you have a mortgage to pay and mouths to feed. I say screw the people calling BMW loosers, if it means Mr/Mrs X from Germany can feed his/her family for the next few months.

Times are changing, and companies have to change with it.

 

[Merc1]

Yeah that is so true. I'm surprised at anyone calling BMW a loser here. This is a rough times induced decision. You know full well if things were different BMW would never quit F1 so abruptly.


M

 

[coolraoul]

The whole shows that Mosley was right after all: a budget cap is necessary, to make F1 less expensive and avoid such quittings...