FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[scotty]

Sauber has been granted the final slot on the Formula 1 grid, the FIA has announced, bringing to an end months of uncertainty about the future of the team.

The Swiss-based outfit had been hanging in limbo since the summer following BMW's decision to pull out of F1.

An original deal with Qadbak proved troublesome, especially because it came too late for the team to be guaranteed a place on the original 2010 grid - with the 13th slot having been handed to Lotus.

However, the post-season decision by Toyota to quit F1 handed Sauber a fresh chance to get back on the grid – and its hopes were further boosted when Peter Sauber took over the outfit following the eventual collapse of the deal with Qadbak.

With Toyota having relinquished its entry, the FIA confirmed on Thursday that Sauber's application to join the championship had been successful – meaning the team will be racing in F1 next year.

"The FIA has written to inform BMW Sauber AG that their application for an entry in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship has been successful," said a statement issued by the FIA.

"Subject to their signing the Concorde Agreement, BMW Sauber will be awarded the 13th entry in the Championship, taking the place of the departing Toyota team.

"The FIA has worked closely with the Commercial Rights Holder and the teams involved over recent weeks and is grateful for their support in achieving the best outcome for the sport."

Great news!! I eagerly await their driver lineup - they could prove to be a pretty handy team next year as BMW have contributed right until the end of their involvement.

[iFuel]

FIA Formula One World Championship - BMW Sauber
03/12/2009

The FIA has written to inform BMW Sauber AG that their application for an entry in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship has been successful. Subject to their signing the Concorde Agreement, BMW Sauber will be awarded the 13th entry in the Championship, taking the place of the departing Toyota team.



The FIA has worked closely with the Commercial Rights Holder and the teams involved over recent weeks and is grateful for their support in achieving the best outcome for the sport.



An updated Formula One entry list will be published in due course.



http://fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressr ... auber.aspx

[Jensonb]

As I said in the Stefan thread, this is great news - and I hope they bring back the old Sauber Livery

[Rusko]

so who is likely to drive? if i was them i'd try the pairing of kobayashi and heikki.

[Denthúl]

so who is likely to drive? if i was them i'd try the pairing of kobayashi and heikki.

I think Heidfeld is likely to stay. He's liked by the whole team, including Peter Sauber, and he's a very good driver.

This is the best news I've had so far since the end of the season.

[7UpJordan]

Excellent news, the FIA have seen sense.

[texasmr2]

Excellent news, the FIA have seen sense.

+1

[racechick]

Whooo whoo!! Excellent news....... pretty please Peter ...give Anthony a drive

[headless]

Geddin

[scotty]

so who is likely to drive? if i was them i'd try the pairing of kobayashi and heikki.

I think Heidfeld is likely to stay. He's liked by the whole team, including Peter Sauber, and he's a very good driver.

This is the best news I've had so far since the end of the season.

If he does go to Mercedes, i wouldn't be at all surprised if Fisichella went there.

[Hansy]

Finally, the great news. Heidfeld and Kobayashi would be excellent.

[darwin dali]

Yessss! Sauber is baaack!

[ivey]

Who would go to Mercedes GP then?

Let's count out schumacher, it's just not gonna happen

[Jamie]

I think Heidfeld & Fisichella. As peter knows them both quite well & has had them both in the past. Will Petrnoas take the livery again???

[scotty]

I think Heidfeld & Fisichella. As peter knows them both quite well & has had them both in the past. Will Petrnoas take the livery again???

I think Petronas are still sponsoring them, yeah. Sauber has tended to run at least one youngster/inexperienced f1 driver over it's time though.