FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[Jabberwocky]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/82181

Peter Sauber is poised to lodge an application to change the name of his Formula 1 team, AUTOSPORT has learned, after he carried the BMW moniker into the new season.

Despite the withdrawal of German car manufacturer BMW from F1, the outfit kept its 'BMW Sauber F1 Team' name for the start of the year.

Sauber did not request a pre-season title change, and name changes are not easy to take place because they can run the risk of teams losing out on vital television rights income.

However, although no move was made before the first race, Sauber has confirmed that now the season is underway his team will request a change - although when exactly has not been decided.

"We will submit an application for a chassis name change, but the timing has yet to be decided," he said when asked by AUTOSPORT about the naming situation. "It will happen some time this season."

The BMW Sauber team is currently without a title sponsor for 2010, and Sauber admitted that his outfit was unlikely to get one now until next year.

"We have still a white car unfortunately, because it is impossible to find sponsors during January and February - especially big sponsors," he explained about the team's financial situation.

"Today we are looking for sponsors for the 2011 season. I hope we will find some sponsors for this season."

Sauber expressed some hope, however, that if the outfit concluded a deal for 2011 it may be able to bring the sponsorship forward into this season.

"If we find a title sponsor for 2011 in the middle of the year then maybe we can have them for this season too," he said.

[What's Burning?]

I hope they do find a sponsor, they deserve it. It would make for a bigger logo on a car this year and a bargain if a sponsor were to come in. If they can get to a situation where they score points for a couple of races, that will help.

[DOOOMKULTUS]

I just love the irony that team is called BMW Sauber and engines are from Ferrari haha. love that

[Trypt]

I just love the irony that team is called BMW Sauber and engines are from Ferrari haha. love that

I can't get over that, I had to double check after watching the race and hearing about it, and sure enuff, its the Ferrari 056 engine they're using. Why wouldn't they just drop the BMW part of the name and call it Sauber like before, this surely wouldn't cause any problems with advertising or trademarks.

[Jensonb]

I just love the irony that team is called BMW Sauber and engines are from Ferrari haha. love that

I can't get over that, I had to double check after watching the race and hearing about it, and sure enuff, its the Ferrari 056 engine they're using. Why wouldn't they just drop the BMW part of the name and call it Sauber like before, this surely wouldn't cause any problems with advertising or trademarks.

It's about the sporting regulations regarding team entries and how those regulations affect TV Revenue payments from FOM.

[headless]

Money, money, money

[EwanM]

Money, money, money

It's so funny...

[Jamie]

If BMW are in the name is Sauber recieving the money...due to that being 'advertising' if not change it and get a good company behind you! Mercedes have stole Petronas.....So why not get Repsol in F1!!!

Com'On Peter think!!!

[darwin dali]

If BMW are in the name is Sauber recieving the money...due to that being 'advertising' if not change it and get a good company behind you! Mercedes have stole Petronas.....So why not get Repsol in F1!!!

Com'On Peter think!!!

It's the TV money they 'earned' last season that they don't want to lose by changing the team name.

[Jabberwocky]

it is lucky the sauber name was kept I would imagine

[darwin dali]

it is lucky the sauber name was kept I would imagine

I was always for keeping the Sauber name when BMW had taken over - and I was very pleased they did keep it. You may have noticed in the past, I never referred to them as BMW, but always as BMW-Sauber even when people here mocked me for it

[stonemonkey]

it is lucky the sauber name was kept I would imagine

LOL, BMW Ferrari.

[Jabberwocky]

it is lucky the sauber name was kept I would imagine

I was always for keeping the Sauber name when BMW had taken over - and I was very pleased they did keep it. You may have noticed in the past, I never referred to them as BMW, but always as BMW-Sauber even when people here mocked me for it

it is odd because no one wanted to have Mercedes-Brawn.

[Trypt]

I'm just wondering, does anyone know how much, if anything, BMW is paying Sauber for the advertising that Sauber is giving them by keeping the name? I understand there were reasons for keeping the name other then advertising, but since the name is there, has Sauber reached some kind of compensation agreement with BMW?

[Jabberwocky]

I would imagine that it just brought the cost of the team down for Sauber