Why are BMW really quitting F1?

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BMW's disastrous 2009 season will be their last for now

The announcement yesterday that BMW is to quit F1 was a shock – at least, until Michael Schumacher announced he was making a comeback.

BMW’s statement had much to say about their corporate strategy and implied reasons to do with environmentally-friendly technology were at the heart of their decision.

Is that really all there is to it? Or, as the FIA claims, is it all to do with costs?

BMW’s explanation

Norbert Reithofer’s explanation for BMW’s decision to leave F1 is predictably smothered in corporate jargon:

Everyone knows that the BMW brand embodies sportiness with sheer driving pleasure. Sportiness and fair competition are firmly encoded in our DNA. This is why we will remain loyal to motor sports. But we will do this in series that enable us to transfer technology more directly and to realise additional synergies, while strengthening our brand values. This is in our customers’ best interest.
Norbert Reithofer

One clear message is that despite leaving F1 they are not leaving motor racing:

BMW will continue to be actively involved in other motor sports series.
BMW statement

Which other sports might these be?

BMW will appear on the starting grid in the touring car series and young driver promotion program in Formula BMW. This will be supplemented by BMW’s participation in ALMS, the American Le Mans Series, endurance races and close-to-production customer sports. Furthermore, BMW Motorrad Motorsport will continue its campaigns, with the super bike world championship leading the way.
BMW statement

Which sounds like pretty much everything besides Formula 1, including the World Touring Car Championship where it races its 3 Series, despite BMW’s many (legitimate) grievances with how badly the FIA has run the championship.

So why single out Formula 1?:

Premium [brands] 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 One campaign is thus less a key promoter for us.
Norbert Reithofer

The statement adds:

Resources freed up as a result are to be dedicated to the development of new drive technologies and projects in the field of sustainability.
BMW statement

In other words, F1 isn’t green enough. We shouldn’t be too quick to cynically dismiss the suggestion: BMW produces among the most efficient road cars in their classes and at the beginning of 2009 was the only remaining defender of KERS. Had the FIA’s scale of ambition for the system this year been greater, and had the other teams not decided to drop it for 2010, might things have been different?

Motorsport director Mario Theissen hints that dissatisfaction with the team’s performance in 2009 may also have played a role in the decision:

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. But I can understand why this decision was made from a corporate perspective.
Mario Theissen

Nowhere in BMW’s statement do they mention the question of costs, which has dogged F1 years, particularly in the months since Honda’s departure. But would they admit to being driven out of the sport by the expense even if that was the case?

Costs

The FIA clearly believes the reason is costs. In a statement today (with a distinctively Mosleyian air of self-satisfaction) it said:

This is why the FIA prepared regulations to reduce costs drastically. These measures were needed to alleviate the pressure on manufacturers following Honda’s withdrawal but also to make it possible for new teams to enter.

Had these regulations not been so strongly opposed by a number of team principals, the withdrawal of BMW and further such announcements in the future might have been avoided.

The statement judiciously avoids pointing out that one of the teas allied to FOTA in oppossing the budget cap rules was BMW itself. Therein lies the rub: the Max Mosley’s attempt to impose a budget cap F1 was a political failure which alienated the very people it was supposed to save.

Nor can we rule out the possibility that, following the Mosley ‘Nazi sadomasochism’ scandal last year and Bernie Ecclestone’s words in praise of Hitler this year, BMW didn’t want to be tainted by association.

Mosley at least had one thing dead right: the decision to axe the F1 team is not taken by the motorsport men – the Mario Theissens. It comes from the board and, just as it was with Honda, the decision is is taken as quickly as the flicking of a light switch.

Why do you believe BMW is leaving F1?

Author information

Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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70 comments on “Why are BMW really quitting F1?”

  1. Sebastien Carter
    30th July 2009, 9:26

    I think it’s a mixture of all the reasons. BMW have always been pretty firm with it’s do or die targets and this year, despite all the effort put into KERS, they just haven’t risen to the challenge. That being said, I have a slight suspiscion that the “F! isn’t green” arguement is a little coy, and maybe used to cover up real reasons.

    But don’t you just love how to FIA ignore all of that and states their own reason why BMW left? It’s as if Max is trying to use them as a Pawn in his cost cutting game!

  2. I think that they are quiting because the car is so ugly. I watched today some races from the past 2-3 years and i think that bMw car was a beauty and what had happened now in 2009 is just a shame…
    I know that beautifull car dosent meen that it’s fast but in some way it really is. I am going back to those changes in regulations but they all made some there a mistake ferrari mclaren bmw but only the last one can’t find a solution. I hope that Kubica will find a new team becasue Nick’s carrier should be over by end of season

    1. Personally I feel all this talk about beauty is post-rationalisation based on performance.

      Everyone thought the McLaren was beautiful before the start of the season and tipped it to be a winner. I didn’t hear anyone talking about it again for the first nine races of this year.

      Any engineer who truly believes that a beautiful car is a fast car (or that a car is fast because it is beautiful) needs to have their head examined.

      Fast cars are beautiful (or slow cars ugly) because of the halo effect of being fast, not because of aesthetics.

      Rant over!

      1. No, I think the McLaren has been the best looking car all season. I thought the Red Bull was nice until they gave it a wide nose. Admittedley the Brawn probably looks better because it wins though.

  3. I think you hit the nail on the head Keith. I don’t think BMW quit F1 because of the cost. If smaller teams like BrawnGP and the new teams entering F1 next year can afford F1, then certainly a company as big as BMW can as well.

    The world greatly underestimates how focused BMW as a company is on “going green”. Although they do produce some un-green cars, they decided to rather produce a small efficient sport car (to be unveiled soon), rather than a supercar to compete against the Audi R8. This is a powerful message, and clearly states what their mission is. I believe that they have now found that without KERS F1 can no longer be a showcase for their green technologies.

    1. Even KERS was a poor green initiative. It’ll never become road relevant if teams are told exactly what they must do to be environmentally friendly, and aren’t allowed to develop it freely.

  4. Perhaps they are going to concentrate on this:
    http://www.autoweek.com/article/20081117/GREEN/811179995

    and race it at Le Mans.

    What would be better for BMW. Stick with a flawed F1 or find a green supercar and take it racing.

    ALMS already have the Green X Challenge.
    http://www.americanlemans.com/index_green.php

    What does F1 have?

  5. Everything is about money. The F1 team itself doesn’t necessarily have to make a monetary profit as long as the benefits to the mother company in technology and promotion were high enough. It’s hard to put a monetary value on some of these benefits, but companies have to do it. And clearly they decided the benefits were not high enough.

    Earlier they complained about the possibility that F1 would not compete in any of their biggest markets, such as the US, UK and Germany. This devalues the value of the promotion / advertising benefits of participating in the series. We can blame Bernie for this writeoff.

    1. I believe you are absolutely correct. F1 was not valuable enough for them to continue participating. Even if a team is losing money on an F1 team they can (in most cases) justify it with the brand exposure that F1 provides. And F1 has a very poor image these days. Between the constant (and overly publicized) quarreling of the sports key figures, Max and Bernie’s respective Nazi-related ordeals, akwardly proportioned cars that still dont enhance overtaking, lack of grands prix in key markets where cars are sold, key sponsor’s wavering in their commitments to the F1 teams, and BMWs surprising performance deficit this year, it makes the most sense for them to leave. Business is business, as far as the board is concerned.

  6. BMW had the wind knocked out of them when they realized that this year, they will not even be able to compete for points.

    from leading the championships almost a year ago, to playing catch up with the back markers, means that something very wrong has taken place. and if they truly wanted to get back to their competitive ways, they would have already done so, but you could sense (now confirmed with hindsight)that they were not really trying…

    Cost is the most definite thing that sealed the deal, but i’m sure their PR and strategy team get paid a lot to be able to play down the premium-ness of F1…

    my commiserations to Kubica and Heidfeld, i hope they find good teams to go to next year, neither can afford a year or two with a team under construction,.

    1. Quality, Ronman. BMW copped out because let’s face it, being at the back of the grid was just too painful for a company which prides itself in being Germany’s sportiest manufacturer. All this codswallop about green is a diversion. Of course BMW is going green, but do you think they would be quitting if they were well in the points??

  7. Ethnic_Tension
    30th July 2009, 9:50

    It’s not about money. BMW has simply lost the plot. They cancelled the new M3 CSL in favour of the X5M and X6M. They’re introducing the cars such as the 5-series GT. They no longer care about true sport cars and racing. It simply about maintaining a sports image whilst flogging of cars to the niche market people who couldn’t care less how the car drives as long as it has a BMW badge on it. It is a shame that BMW has left F1.

  8. The statement judiciously avoids pointing out that one of the teas allied to FOTA in oppossing the budget cap rules was BMW itself.

    Actually the whole budget cap idea was proposed in 2007 by Honda (Ross Brawn and Nick Fry) and quickly adopted by people like Frank Williams and Mario Theissen.

    There are plenty quotes of these people (and Briatore and Horner) that a budget cap is the only way to go forward.

    Even during the budget cap row Mario Theissen kept saying a budget cap would not be a problem, but on a more realistic level and with a more normal glide path.

    I wouldn’t be surprised if the lack of budget cap is one of the major reasons for them to pull out.

    Of course their lack of success is the other one, but in F1 it’s a fact that success costs money. It’s impossible to compete with a half the budget and win.

    And no Brawn doesn’t do it on half a budget, that car cost a fortune and Red Bull run two teams, I wonder what their budget really is. Besides both Brawn and Red Bull might run into trouble keeping up with the big boys soon.

  9. Jonesracing82
    30th July 2009, 9:59

    i am fast becoming very annoyed with Manufacturers, they have everything thier way, even get the rules written to suit them and then they turn around and leave when it suits them without caring for the sport!
    Sauber may not have had the success, but he’d be staying in the sport if he could afford to…….

    1. Agree. Manufacturers are not the future of F1 and never have been. For all their faults, the FIA have been warning about this for years….

      1. …and the FIA courted them beforehand…

      2. For all their faults, the FIA have been warning about this for years….

        And for years it has been FiA, well of course read that “Mosley”, that has done everythig possible to drive a stake through the heart of the manufacturers.

        From back when Mosley was legal advisor to Formula One Constructors Association-which did NOT include the manufacturers-Mosley has held no great love for the manufacturers and has, at any possible opportunity, done whatever he could to hurt them.

  10. Not only the poor performances of this year play an important role, but most important motives are lack of innovation and recent scandals (“Spank-gate” and the separation).

  11. HounslowBusGarage
    30th July 2009, 10:10

    I think there’s a lot of truth in DCs comment. The board of any company will examine the plus/minus euquation of being involved in any activity and if the result comes up negative consistently, they are legally bound to take action as part of their responsibility to their shareholders.
    BMW are in existence to sell cars and make money. If the company is feeling the pinch, and if their F1 racing team is consistently being beaten by one of their main car-retail rivals (Mercedes), they will have to look for an alternative arena in which to show themselves.
    That’s why BMW are involved in WTCC – they can be top German dog there. And that’s also why they won’t go into DTM – too much risk of being overshadowed by Audi and Mercedes.
    Keith, the only part of you article that I question is the that BMW may be somehow uncomfortable to be associated with the Mosley/Nazi affair. It doen’t seem to be bothering Mercedes very much – and of course, Mosley won his action against the newspaper making the ‘Nazi’ allegations.
    I think all that’s blown over, and rendered a bit irrelelvant by the close finish to last season and the turmoil of the accepted order this year.
    Perhaps one of the final reasons for BMW’s apparently ‘snap’ decision to withdraw from F1 was the return of MacLaren Mercedes to the top step of the podium. Perhaps BMW did not feel too unsuccessful by comparison when Mercedes were languishing around middle bottom earlier this season. But their return to winning might have made BMW realise that their F1 successes were totally inadequate by comparison

    1. I disagree that McLaren Mercedes’ return to the top step was anything to do with this. Mercedes has been winning since the beginning of this season thanks to BrawnGP.

      I do think BMW’s lack of results played a large part in the decision and I think the “snap” timing of this was in part due to the imminent signing of the new Concorde Agreement which would have commited them to the sport until 2012…

      1. I think the “snap” timing of this was in part due to the imminent signing of the new Concorde Agreement which would have commited them to the sport until 2012…

        Thats exactly what the problem was.

        Its a big fall for BMW they were brilliant last year but completely rubbish this year.

      2. I agree, the signing on for another 3 years, with a strong possibility of being a middle-of-the-road team, will have been a major factor, build in the lack of money to spend your way out of trouble, and you have a situation where the continuation in F1 could have been detrimental to the image of BMW.

      3. HounslowBusGarage
        30th July 2009, 13:29

        True.

  12. i have a feeling that many of the people daming budget cuts only weeks ago are now damning the suits that canceled their introduction… tsk tsk tsk… be careful what you wish for…

  13. How have been managed F1:

    1) As one guy (or guys) become billionaire taking out 50% revenues of F1’s value chain for the next 100 years, those who produce the show has to reduce their budgets to a minimal fraction.

    “Sorry guys whe have taken the money out so you have to spend 80% less if you want this formula alive”

    2) Most of the traditional circuits, located in the main markets for motorcar manufacters surrendering to the fact they cannot hold a F1 GP under the current economic scheme (stablished by the same guy, btw)

    So, no races in France, Canada, USA, next one: ¿Germany?, even China is thinking not to renew the current agreement.

    3) Changing technical rules almost every year.

    V10 Engines? no more. Meanwhile, BMW launching their M-Series based on V10 engines…

    4) Standarization, new wave in F1: innovation is not allowed. All technical, and sporting rules made through “commettees”.

    As a proverb says: “A Camel is a Horse designed by a commettee”

    5) Sporting rules and guidance procedures with no consistency, allowing all kind of different interpretations according to political interests or personal ego-fights.

    “Do you want to enter into F1 champioship?, Well you must agree with Cosworth”.

    “I don’t like what Flavio have said about me so ban his team for a race.

    6) Long term in F1 means 3-4 weeks.

    You only have to download from FIA official page, 2009 sporting and techical rules (with control changes) and you will discover a “world in technicolor”.

    I wonder myself how on earth a motorcar manufacturer can match this, with their own estrategy. What is a miracle is still having the rest puting their effort in F1.

    1. Very good comment. This world of F1 politics is enough to drive everyone crazy.
      A serious company like BMW must feel they are in a Three Stooges movie.

    2. Very funny and true indeed!!

      1. Oh!

        I was not pretending being funny, but this is what happens when one write in other language!

        1. Hi, IDR,

          You’ve been expressing this point of view since the FIA/FOTA clash came about…and I think it really keys into the problems.

          From my point of view in the US, the recent embarrassments with Max and Bernie have really made the problem much worse. The only time non-F1 fans hear about F-1 in the US is when the powers that be do or say ridiculous (for a lack of a better word) things. What reputable company wants to their name to be associated with such goings on.

    3. Agree. I’ve wondered for few months how such huge economic, technical and political players like BMW, Mercedes or Toyota can stand all those more and more ridiculous ideas of Max and Bernie.

      Money? Maybe. But also dignity and PR.

      And of course successes on track. And lack of them was the last nail to the coffin.

  14. BMW are effectively admitting that they are no longer interested in proper motorsport.

    Premium [brands] 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 One campaign is thus less a key promoter for us.

    I read that and see Norbert Reithofer talking about marketing BMW more effectively as a caring sharing environmentally considerate company. They’re really stuck on this point. Why stick up for KERS when all other teams wanted it put back for a year? Answer green credentials. Why abandon the system in June? Answer it was a disaster that didn’t benefit their performance in the same way McLaren and Ferrari were experiencing at the time. Also, their system was clearly inferior to the Mercedes system. The coup de grace? Answer Mercedes winning and Ferrari finishing second at Hungaroring. Just as relevant was the upturn in Renault’s performance in Germany and Hungary. BMW were not progressing and like good little corporate types who thought F1 would be like delivering some road car project, they totally underestimated the intellectual resources required to pull them out of the mire. As I wrote in the other thread Sir Frank must have allowed himself a cheeky little smile when he heard they were pulling out.

    1. the BMW press relese is just greenwash and short termisam alot of teh otehr series they compete in 95% of the public havnt heard of.

      the only other race with anything like the clout of f1 is Le Mans and thats Audi’s playground.

  15. Robert McKay
    30th July 2009, 11:18

    I think one of the problems is they really want to push the KERS/green/road-relevant technology but they can’t because even if they used it on their cars their rival Mercedes-Benz is winning with theirs. Puts them in a difficult position.

    They seem disappointed with the homologisation and standardisation of parts, which is odd given they were part of FOTA who decided that was the way to go, unless they were endlessly outvoted on it.

    Cost actually probably isn’t a major factor in it.

    But I hope its not, simply due to poor results this year, that would be very kneejerk indeed.

    There’s probably a bit of everything though…

  16. I get the feeling that they are sulking. Men in suits with little understanding of F1… Win the championship within 3 seasons??!! :|

    Shame to see them go but lets hope Sauber or someone takes over the team again.

  17. I think it’s all about return on investment (ROI). The investment in F1 is huge. Factories come in thinking they will achieve a high level of success and find out they are one of ten teams and not everyone is going to be a winner. Recently Honda bailed out, now BMW, and likely Toyota will also.

  18. Jasmine Corbelle
    30th July 2009, 12:00

    I do think BMW and Honda want to be seen as a more ‘green’ option than it’s competitors in the market place, so I think BMW are being genuine about that. Had they of been in serious contention for the constructors championship next season, then maybe their principles would have been put on hold, just a little longer! (Well who wouldn’t)

  19. The statement judiciously avoids pointing out that one of the teas allied to FOTA in oppossing the budget cap rules was BMW itself

    Those teas hey who do they think they are.

    Who cares Schumacher is back.

    Oh sorry I mean damn BMW are quitting. I imagine they’re largely sick of the BS plus they’re loosing like a fat kid at sports day, would they quit if they were in the position of Brawn GP? Probably not I’d guess. Anyway Schumacher is back.

    1. I can bet the other tea was Earl Grey. Serves it right for being too posh.

      1. lol I thought it was Rooisbos.

  20. So if they are withdrawing due to the financial pressures of F1 and the rejected budget caps it seems that they have more money to toss into the sea with BWMOracle Racing and the joke that once was the America’s Cup. The dollars spent in development and redevelopment of the “Dogzilla” and the court costs involved must be staggering… but of course sailing is “Green” and the rumor mill has engines in the sailboats now to operate machinery.

    It is a shame to loose them, and Peter Sauber’s legacy in F1… maybe one of the other rejected teams can buy them up and become another Brawn.

  21. Some people might say its the political bickering, the governance in F1, the performance this year..etc etc. Remember occam’s razor, the simple fact is BMW is in the business of making money by selling cars. If they can make a F1 car that generates 100mm in sponsorship revenues and costs 50mm to do so, why would they NOT do it? On the other hand, if it costs them 300mm or whatever to generate 100mm in revenues, then of course they would not do so. BMW should hang their head in shame for what they have done with FOTA and potentially causing harm to the sport.

    1. I agree that they haven’t helped FOTA’s cause – but who is the member of FOTA? BMW or BMW-Sauber & Mario Theissen? Bit of a difference there. I’m sure Theissen remembers his obligations to FOTA, but sadly, he doesn’t have the final say. He is as much a victim of economic rationalisation as the rest of the BMW-Sauber team.

      Personally, I think that if there were still races in the USA or Canada, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.

      Blame Canada !

  22. I think it is a combination of all the reasons mentioned in the article.

    I think it is probably safe to say that if they were challenging for the championship now they wouldn’t be leaving, having said that I wouldn’t have been surprised that if BMW had met their target of winning the championship this year then maybe after another year or two they would say they had achieved what they set out to achieve in F1 and were quitting.

    Although BMW wouldn’t mention cost as a reason after everything that has happened this season it would have played a part, it would be easier for the board to justify an F1 team having a bad year if it wasn’t costing them much.

    The reasons for Manufacturers to participate in any form of motorsport are for promotional reasons and R&D. If F1 no longer has any races in some of BMW’s key markets they would have to re-evaluate their involvement. Also the I think the image of F1 as a whole has been damaged in the past year or so with Mosley’s sex scandal, Ecclestone’s Nazi comments and of course the FIA/FOTA row, so this wouldn’t have helped when looking at reasons to stay in F1.

    As far as R&D goes I could easily believe that BMW decided the best motorsport series to come up with road relevant and green technology wasn’t F1.

  23. BMW is not a very wealthy company. It is one of the largest Independant automanufacturers left. It is not part of a conglomerate so I do not believe they could afford to continue in F1 with a major title sponsor like Credite Suisse,ho left at the end of last year.

    They have been F1 cash strapped since the beginning of the year and their siding with FOTA on the budget cap issue was more a matter of share price than common sense. Not very good for BMW’s share price is they are perceived to want to spend less on F1 motorsport. In all other coategories hey sell the race car to the competitor. In F1 they have to pay for it themselves.

    There is probably a lot of truth in their corporate speakl reasons to quit too. Only Mercedes is a direct competitor in the luxury car marketand even then they appeal to different people so they dont compete directly either. Audi is their main opposition and they have been making marketing inroads wrt to BMW’s position as a luxurysports car, especially in America.

    I also believe that F1 has no direct beaing on road cars save for KERS. So for BMW quitting now is quite logical. Why spend more without guarantee of ROI?

    Kudo’s to them for quitting. F1 is a farce anyway. the only real way for F1 to survive would have been under Max Mosley’s rules for budget capping

  24. BMW in ALMS? That could be interesting, and good that they will continue supporting Formula BMW and the Touring Cars too.
    Although I can see that the recent lack of wins would have speeded any management decisions about staying in F1, the sheer stupidy and pig-headedness coming from FIA and FOM recently would be enough to make any team think twice before continuing in the sport.

  25. The first thing is it is not money related, quite the opposite, now is the time to get into F1 for monetary reasons.

    With the new Concorde agreement the revenue allocation has been changed and along with the team spending agreement all the F1 teams will be profitable by 2011 if they don’t want to blow all their revenue on motor homes and expensive consultants.

    I think the exit is a combination of three things.
    A) The embarrassment that is the way the Max and Bernie show is run, Max especially. The politics and governance of F1 has been farcical plus BMW are German, the Nazi scandals are there, whether proven or not and it’s very distasteful by association. Someone mentioned Mercedes have stuck it out, yes but that doesn’t mean pressure hasn’t come from certain board members for Mercedes to pull out. It is just that Mercedes have more to lose and more reasons to stay (Respected engine supplier, longer F1 history, better results, Mclaren argueably the most prestigous global team/brand after Ferrari), the pros and cons are more balanced for them.

    B) Commitment, it’s either get out now or the next chance is 2012. I don’t think they would be pulling out now if they could choose to exit for whatever reason when they felt like it. Any more scandal or embarassment in the next 3 years and they can’t leave even if they want.

    C) Results, the icing on the cake. This year they are terrible, it would certainly be embarrassing if BMW were to be back markers for the next 3 years behind every other manufacturer on the grid. I don’t think the faith is there. 2009 was a hyped year for BMW. They were expected to be the “strongest” KERS team pre season and they started their 2009 car before Ferrari and McLaren. This was meant to be the year they arose at the top.

    I think overall they see being locked into F1 for the next 3 years as being a potential PR and brand disaster and after all that has gone on this year, it’s a risk they don’t want to take.

    The green credentials of F1 are just a small extra reason in my opinion and they would remain in F1 regardless if they were leading either of the two titles. We know F1 will get greener, they could influence this more if they were within F1.

    I just hope the team is sold and kept running a la Brawn.

  26. I think something that’s overlooked here is that “sustainability” does not necessarily mean “environmentally-friendly”. However, green technologies are really at the forefront of automotive development, and “green washing” is a very real phenomenon in the push to drive sales.

    That said, the expenditures into F1 are not “sustainable” in as much as the tech development there is not going to help their bottom line to sell more environmentally-friendly automobiles. KERS was the fine thread connecting the two, but now it’s frankly unjustifiable. Therefore, the benefits of BMW running in F1 cannot “sustain” its continued involvement.

    1. this is deffinatly on the right track. i may add that costs is not the issue as the FIA is stressing, but rather developmental restrictions. If BMW had a program in F1 that could in some way trickle down into their road cars, they would undouptably INVEST MORE in F1 to better production/sales for future products! its pretty much a fundemental idea behind F1. Also, i think its important to note that their was a line-up of companies and individuals tring to enter the sport this year, which I’d say is a damn good sign that costs are at a more than reasonable level. I find it difficult to believe they are finding funding to run a F1 team but a major ‘sport’ automaker is strugleing with already reduced budgets.

      bring back the technical freedom and u bring back the manufactures…reduce cost and freedoms and u welcome in the Campos, Manor, and USF1’s, of the world.

  27. People have short memories. The reason BMW are leaving is simply boardroom politics. Think back 4 years, when Marrio Thyssen was moaning about Williams poor performance and that he wanted an all BMW team. He managed to persuade a very reluctant BMW board to try it. Norbert Reithofer was always anti it, but in the end agreed to let Thyssen try it and gave him a deadline of 3 years to achieve success…. there was much talk at the time of giving Thyssen enough rope! It’s 3 years on, no real success, so Reithofer has just done what he always wanted…. it’s got nothing to do with costs, FIA/FOTA politics, green issues, that’s just spin….. the current situation has just made it easy, Reithofer was always going to kill it if he could.

    1. interesting, i didnt know reithofer had thyssen on lease. that would make ur argument quite valid and almost end all discussion. however, as much of a ‘spin’ as it may be, they are real issues ANY manufacture would face in BMW’s position and Honda may have been caught out by the same reasoning.

      Toyota and Renault will be the yard stick, if they can hang around for even a few seasons more, we will know this was an internal BMW issue.

    2. HounslowBusGarage
      30th July 2009, 21:47

      Good memory/research Jim N. Is there any possibility that Reithofer would allow BMW to revert to their previous position of engine supplier, or is he totally anti-F1?
      And will Thyssen survive the boardroom punch-up?

  28. BMW’s departure is really a pity. If expectations had not been so high this season, they (BMW bosses) would not have pulled the plug so early. The greater the expecation, the greater the disappointment. Even if they are not fighting for the championship (as EVERYONE including the team themselves have predicted@overestimated), one or two race wins in 2009 would probably have saved them from leaving the sport so desperately. Hundreds of millions may well be saved and spent on more important things, say, car warranties rather than a few miserable championship points? 8-) My point is: the big bosses may have expected something huge as what the team promises for 2009, unfortunately they failed to deliver. In the real corporate world, you get the axe when you fail to deliver what you PROMISED. I think it works the same way for BMW Sauber F1 team. If only BMW had Red Bull-like performances this year, things will definitely change, yeah, if only. To Heidfeld and Kubica, start sending your job applications NOW!

  29. Fandysilalahi
    30th July 2009, 17:02

    Lookin at how they would not join DTM although most of their biggest rivals are there (Merc and Audi); I think it’s safe to say that BMW ain’t got the balls nor the performance to go head to head with Merc no more. That’s why they’re pulling out (to safe their brand image, coz F1 was the only competition that exposed them to a head to head comparison with Mercedes).
    But that was just my opinion though. When it comes to Mercs vs Bimmers, I’m always a bit biased.

  30. Fandysilalahi
    30th July 2009, 17:07

    By the way, Mercedes has managed to trickle the Kers technology to a roadgoing car, in the form of the fully electric variant of their upcoming SLS gullwing revival roadster.

  31. Though when the news is first heard it might look a little cowardly repeating the pattern of Honda where in once an under performance is seen. Move out ASAP.

    But Over all I feel BMW is one of the smart companies. They are all set to take over as the highest seller of Luxury brand in US this year. http://bit.ly/fuUOd

    Maybe all these are some reasons.
    1) BMW was unhappy when F1 moved out of US. Now there is no F1 in the entire North America which is their biggest segment. Though F1 is a world sport what is the use of competing only in countries which potentially can only sell these premium cars in 1000s and neglecting the ones in the 200000s like North Am.

    2) Though F1 has a unique glaze about it, They can focus on specific categories of racing in different parts of the globe and still carry the brand identity without being in F1.

    3) The F1 Management is not the most thrilling entity today with all sorts of news surrounding it for the wrong reasons.

    4) A Premium brand like BMW fighting with Torro Rosso and Force India would be more damaging to their image than quitting.

    5) And Most Importantly MONEY……. It definitely is a very expensive sport. In this tough global economy why spend on it with no sorts of ROI from it.

    I am sure they will comeback after 5 or 10 years when things stabilizes and when they feel the need to get to other markets and up the brand image.

  32. I really wish that somone would put their foot down and put a stop to M.M. and B.E’s destruction of F1. Those two belong in a Mental institute.
    First of all: The teams should be able to go out and make an agreement with any engine company they think will give them an advantage. Ex: If USF1 wanted to use a dodge engine instead of Cosworth, they should be allowed to do it.
    Second: They need to go to tracks where they KNOW FOR A FACT that fans will show up!!! Montreal 300,000 people swaped for a track that atracted only what? 35,000! C’mon, Bernie, do some research before decided to be greedy! What an A$$. I had been saving up money for months to go to that race, then one day in October I find out it got removed from the calender!!! I can’t tell you how many garbage cans i kicked over that day.
    I won’t pretend to know exactly why BMW pulled out, but you can’t tell me it had nothing to do with the current advertising opportunities.

  33. Before the season, BMW was a real champion of the KERS concept.

    I think they should be where McLaren is now-with a car revised to meet the clarified aero rules for 2009 plus a cracking KERS system to boost them up the final two places in the Manufacturers Standings from 08.

    I am betting on a return to LeMans for them.

  34. To be honest, I’m with Ferrari on this. I don’t particularly care why BMW have chosen to leave though of course I would have preferred them to stay. Any excuse they have is weak in my opinion, they have pulled out due to lack of performance and they don’t like competing for left overs at the back of the field.

    Formula One is about rapidly evolving, high tech competition where success comes from innovative human ideas rather than corporate muscle and long may that continue.

    BMW have proved that you can’t just buy a team, throw money at it and expect to win the championship. They were severely deluded to even think they could do so.

  35. BMW was very upset about the ambiguity in the rules, this past year, that lead to some teams developing KERS and others not to, some teams having a double diffuser while others did not, etc.
    This past winter it was like rolling the dice for the teams : what do we do ? and for some teams the dice rolled the wrong way and they ended up with an uncompetitive car. It happened to several of the best teams.
    For a serious company like BMW, that associates good work with good results, this crazy lottery of F1, with Bernie, Mosley, Flavor Flav and Lou in charge, must seem like an improper place to be.
    And now, if we end up with Todt “Newman”, even worse. BMW would pay a lot of money to not be associated with such an unsavory individual.

  36. I could careless about why BMW did quit (not to sound arrogant). I like their production cars but in the world of motorsports when I think of BMW, I think of a lack of commitment. They have all the resources, all the personnel, and yet they never seem to have much success or continue to build off success.

  37. Sad for a prestigious name like BMW leave F1.

    Probably pointless for them to keep investing money
    into something when the rules are aways changing.

    They were really close last year and got caught off by the
    new regs.

    The results are tarnishing the name

  38. The regulations are no excuse for poor performance, all of the teams are in the same boat. As Ross Brawn said a few months back, BMW were opposing any amendments to the new rules back in 2008 because they claimed they had already got a good grasp of the design for their 2009 challengers. As it happens they had designed some seriously underperforming wastes of money and now they are paying the price for their short-sightedness.

    I hope FOTA helps to get the team back up and running for the 2010 grid as they mentioned in their latest press release.

  39. There’s been a lot of discussion about manufacturers in the past couple days, I think I stand by the notion that manufacturers should just supply engines, or have a joint venture like Mclaren and Mercedes.

    The problem with the big time mnaufacturers is that, F1 is just a another facet of their businesses, not like Ferrari, where F1 racing is the embodiment of the company brand and its products. The big guns go into F1 with deep coffers and they tend to exercise their financial clout, because they can. But, as in all businesses, basic economics will come into play. If your returns don’t add up to your capital, it wouldn’t make sense anymore.

    This was the case with Honda, now BMW and soon to be Toyota, maybe Renault too. Honda spent billions, and they got 1 win, excluding Brawn’s success. Toyota are in the same boat, Renault did win two World Championships, but they’ve been going backwards since then.

    BMW have had reasonable success, but for the amount they spent, they would probably have been expecting to be consistent front runner by now, this season especially after last seasons success. If it wasn’t for the economic downturn, they probably would have considered writing off this season and seriously focus for next season.

    The same can be said about all the other manuacturers. If the economy was rosy..we wouldn’t be having this conversation now would we?

  40. This call came right from the top (BMW board),when you devalue a Brand name like Max the Nazi and Bernie Hitler right before the German GP you know heads are going to roll…it’s not about cost. An just a side note HP will be out of F1 soon

  41. I think BMW did the right thing, although “we as fans” will miss them very much! But one things for sure we will always stay loyal to the Brand! Max and Bernie on the other hand are just racist scabs, and I think the world has seen that for themselves the sooner those bum bags dissapear from the F1 the better!! Long live BMW and may you prosper and achieve in other sectors as you always do! BMW SAUBER you came and showed the world what magnificent cars and engines you have, you will truely be missed!

  42. Its just business, and money talks.

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