Mixed feelings for BMW

Team boss hopes good result can soften blow of withdrawal

Last updated: 28th October 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Mixed feelings for BMW

Theissen: Last race

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BMW Sauber boss Mario Theissen says there will be no let-up at the final grand prix of the season in Abu Dhabi this weekend, despite it being the team's final race.

The German manufacturer announced during the summer that it was pulling out of Formula One at the end of the season, a decision in part due to the team's poor results in 2009.

Robert Kubica gave them their best result of the season so far when he finished second in Brazil the weekend before last and Theissen hopes another good result at the new Yas Marina track can help soften the blow.

Assessing the weekend ahead, and his team's time in F1, Theissen said: "We travel to Abu Dhabi with mixed feelings.

"The eight points we collected in Brazil allowed us to move up a place in the constructors' championship, and we will be highly motivated again at the final race of the season.

"We are looking forward to racing at this new Formula One venue and can't wait to experience the atmosphere at the marina circuit.

"However, there will of course also be a fair amount of sadness within the team, after all this will be our 70th and final race.

"With the exception of our fourth and unfortunately final season, I'm more than satisfied with what we have achieved since 2006.

"In the first three years after the team was founded, we met - and even exceeded - all the aims we set ourselves.

"We recorded two podium finishes in our first season, and in our second we established ourselves as the third-strongest team in the championship.

"This was the year in which Robert (Kubica) suffered his horrific crash in Montreal, although a year later we enjoyed our greatest success.

"From the moment Robert and Nick (Heidfeld) crossed the finish line in quick succession to record a one-two result, there was no stopping us.

"We remained part of a three-way battle for the title almost until the end of the season. We notched up 11 podium finishes in total in 2008, and our reliability was excellent."

Hopeful

Although Sauber have secured new backing it came too late for them to be guaranteed a spot on the 2010 grid.

Their place has gone instead to the re-born Lotus marque and hopes now rest on either agreement from all teams for a 14th place or for one of their existing number to drop out.

"Of course, the whole team is disappointed we have been unable to build on our success in 2009 as we had hoped to have a say in the title race," added Theissen.

"But we have never thrown in the towel, even after BMW announced its withdrawal from Formula One, which shows the strong character of our team.

"I hope our successor will continue along this successful path in Formula One."