Anxious wait for Sauber

Theissen: Decision needed soon

There is no clear deadline on this, but obviously it becomes more difficult day by day.

Mario Theissen
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BMW Motorsport boss Mario Theissen says Sauber need to be guaranteed a place on the Formula One grid by the end of the year if they are to make the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marked what could prove the team's swansong, the German manufacturer having announced during the summer its intention to pull out of the sport by the end of the season.

The decision leaves Sauber, who were acquired by BMW ahead of the 2006 season, fighting for their future because although they have since secured new backing, the FIA handed their place to the new Lotus team.

As such, their best bet of making the new season appears to be for one of the other 13 teams to fall by the wayside, with another - albeit less likely - option being agreement among the teams to allow a 14th slot.

There remains speculation about the future of Toyota and Renault, but it is almost certain both will be in the Middle East in mid-March, while doubts persist whether the plans of new Lotus, Manor, US F1 and Campos teams will come to fruition.

Meanwhile, there remains opposition, led by the Williams team, to the possibility of 28 cars being entered for races.

Preparations

But Theissen stressed that Sauber cannot wait indefinitely as preparations would need to be made ahead of what could be a 19-race campaign.

"Everybody says it's very likely another team will go, that we are unlikely to have 14 teams ready for next year, maybe not even 13," he said.

"But that's all speculation at the moment. What we know is there's no unanimous agreement on the 14th team, so another team pulling out is the easiest way (to be in F1) from our perspective.

"Naturally the backers are keen to have a decision soon because you can only sign driver and sponsor contracts when you have a place on the grid, so they are pushing, together with us.

"There is no clear deadline on this, but obviously it becomes more difficult day by day.

"I don't think, though, we could leave it as late as mid-January. I hope it will be decided before the end of the year."

Theissen has also yet to make a decision on his own future. Although he remains in charge of BMW Motorsport, he could become team principal of Sauber should they survive.

"My future is open," he added. "I have the option to stay with BMW, or one of the other racing programmes.

"I deliberately pushed a decision out of my mind, and I will deal with it in the coming weeks.

"The top priority is to get a place on the grid for the team, and after that I will think about my own future."