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2006 BMW Sauber F1 F1.06 news, pictures, and information | ||
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It was set in concrete as the day dawned on 22nd June 2005:
BMW would for the first time be running its own team in the FIA Formula One World Championship, starting the very next season – 2006. On the afternoon of that same day in June, the Board of Management's decision was announced to the public at large. It was the starting signal for the race before the race: wîth just 262 days to go, the combined pulling power of a 600-strong team had to get things moving from standstill up to race speed.
On 12th March 2006 in Bahrain, the BMW Sauber F1 Team will launch its first season wîth the BMW Sauber F1.06, driven by Nick Heidfeld and Jacques Villeneuve.
As Professor Burkhard Göschel, BMW Board Member for Development and Purchasing, points out: 'This project represents a strong, long-term commitment to Formula One on BMW's part. For the BMW Group, Formula One acts as a high-tech laboratory and technology accelerator. This synergistic effect has already had a very positive impact in our six years as an engine partner. But you can't win races wîth an engine alone, which is why we wanted to be involved in all the success factors. In keeping wîth that, we have now taken on overall responsibility. Formula One seems tailor-made for BMW's brand values, and there's no other sporting event that generates so much attention on such a regular basis worldwide. In 2006 we will primarily be building up experience. In 2005 Sauber came eighth in the Constructors' World Championship. That is our starting point, and I can see plenty of upside potential.'
'To set up a new team is a huge challenge', says Professor Mario Theissen, who as BMW Motorsport Director oversees all of BMW's racing involvements. 'Our concept includes boosting staff numbers, expanding the facility in Hinwil, an intensive development programme and the networking of all activities in Munich and Hinwil. The division of labour is as follows: Munich is in charge of the powertrain and electronics, Hinwil is responsible for the chassis and race deployment. We will be recruiting more than 100 new staff in Switzerland.
The key priorities will be to convert the wind tunnel from single to three-shift operation as well as setting up an autonomous test team. The Hinwil wind tunnel is outstandingly good. Overall, the factory is good but not yet big enough. The extension plans, which include new offices as well as development and production facilities, have been drawn up and we expect planning permission to come through in spring of 2006. All measures will be fully implemented by the end of 2007. The 2006 season will be a year of development. That also applies to the technical package, whose concept was already largely established in Munich and Hinwil before the takeover. In 2006 we aim to grow together and maximise our potential.'
After 13 years as a team principal in Formula One, Peter Sauber has stepped back from the operational side of the business. Now 62, he will act as advisor to the new team. 'I was delighted that Sauber is to remain part of the team name. I shall be keeping a close eye on the progress of the
BMW Sauber F1 Team. I'm especially pleased for the staff in Hinwil, who will now have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills wîth the support of their colleagues from BMW.'
Two adoptive Swiss in the cockpit
They've long known each other, they've both raced for Sauber before, they both live in Switzerland – but they've never before been team-mates. Drivers Nick Heidfeld and Jacques Villeneuve can look back on a combined tally of 250 grands prix.
Heidfeld (28) made his Formula One debut at the start of the 2000 season and competed for the Swiss racing team from 2001 to 2003. His best results so far are the two second places he claimed for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team in the 2005 season. He also took a pole position in the same year. The man from Mönchengladbach, whose daughter – and first child – was born in July 2005, has 98 race starts under his belt.
'I'm really lòòking forward to the new season and the new team, many of whom I already know from years past', says Heidfeld. 'Besides, I can get to Hinwil in 15 minutes by car, which is a real advantage. It's natural for a racing driver to be impatient when it comes to achieving success, but we need to be realistic. For me the most important thing is that we're moving in the right direction. We have to work hard and make steady progress.'
No other driver in Formula One has risen to World Champion status as rapidly as Jacques Villeneuve. In 1996, his debut year, the Canadian already finished as runner-up behind his then Williams-Renault team-mate Damon Hill. Then in 1997 he beat Michael Schumacher to the title for Williams-Renault.
In 152 grands prix he has taken eleven victories and claimed pole 13 times.
After five years wîth the BAR team, it seemed his F1 career was over in 2003. But then he was given the chance to compete in the final three races of season 2004 for Renault. In 2005, the son of the famous Ferrari driver Gilles Villeneuve was signed up by Sauber.
'Building up a new team is a very complex task', says Villeneuve lòòking ahead to 2006. 'I've already been through it in the past. But I think we've got a number of good prerequisites coming together here. I'll be doing my very best to help the BMW Sauber F1 Team achieve success.'
New regulations
The most radical technical changes for 2006 affect the engines: Formula One is switching from three-litre V10 engines to V8 units wîth 2.4 litres' displacement. The rules governing the new engines are far more tightly regulated and the scope for engineers has shrunk. The switch to the more compact V8 powerplants also brings wîth it noticeable modifications to the chassis. Among other changes, the cars will feature pared-down sidepods as the radiators can now be designed smaller than before.
Racing fans can again look forward to the spectacle of tyre changing in the pits, which has the go-ahead again as of 2006. The qualifying format is also new: for the 2006 World Championship, grid positions will be determined in a shootout. From 14.00 to 15.00 hrs on Saturday, the fast laps will be driven in three time sections, wîth the slowest drivers in the first two 15-minute periods taking no further part in qualifying, leaving the remaining drivers to compete for the best starting positions in the final session.Source - BMW Press
BMW would for the first time be running its own team in the FIA Formula One World Championship, starting the very next season – 2006. On the afternoon of that same day in June, the Board of Management's decision was announced to the public at large. It was the starting signal for the race before the race: wîth just 262 days to go, the combined pulling power of a 600-strong team had to get things moving from standstill up to race speed.
On 12th March 2006 in Bahrain, the BMW Sauber F1 Team will launch its first season wîth the BMW Sauber F1.06, driven by Nick Heidfeld and Jacques Villeneuve.
As Professor Burkhard Göschel, BMW Board Member for Development and Purchasing, points out: 'This project represents a strong, long-term commitment to Formula One on BMW's part. For the BMW Group, Formula One acts as a high-tech laboratory and technology accelerator. This synergistic effect has already had a very positive impact in our six years as an engine partner. But you can't win races wîth an engine alone, which is why we wanted to be involved in all the success factors. In keeping wîth that, we have now taken on overall responsibility. Formula One seems tailor-made for BMW's brand values, and there's no other sporting event that generates so much attention on such a regular basis worldwide. In 2006 we will primarily be building up experience. In 2005 Sauber came eighth in the Constructors' World Championship. That is our starting point, and I can see plenty of upside potential.'
'To set up a new team is a huge challenge', says Professor Mario Theissen, who as BMW Motorsport Director oversees all of BMW's racing involvements. 'Our concept includes boosting staff numbers, expanding the facility in Hinwil, an intensive development programme and the networking of all activities in Munich and Hinwil. The division of labour is as follows: Munich is in charge of the powertrain and electronics, Hinwil is responsible for the chassis and race deployment. We will be recruiting more than 100 new staff in Switzerland.
The key priorities will be to convert the wind tunnel from single to three-shift operation as well as setting up an autonomous test team. The Hinwil wind tunnel is outstandingly good. Overall, the factory is good but not yet big enough. The extension plans, which include new offices as well as development and production facilities, have been drawn up and we expect planning permission to come through in spring of 2006. All measures will be fully implemented by the end of 2007. The 2006 season will be a year of development. That also applies to the technical package, whose concept was already largely established in Munich and Hinwil before the takeover. In 2006 we aim to grow together and maximise our potential.'
After 13 years as a team principal in Formula One, Peter Sauber has stepped back from the operational side of the business. Now 62, he will act as advisor to the new team. 'I was delighted that Sauber is to remain part of the team name. I shall be keeping a close eye on the progress of the
BMW Sauber F1 Team. I'm especially pleased for the staff in Hinwil, who will now have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills wîth the support of their colleagues from BMW.'
Two adoptive Swiss in the cockpit
They've long known each other, they've both raced for Sauber before, they both live in Switzerland – but they've never before been team-mates. Drivers Nick Heidfeld and Jacques Villeneuve can look back on a combined tally of 250 grands prix.
Heidfeld (28) made his Formula One debut at the start of the 2000 season and competed for the Swiss racing team from 2001 to 2003. His best results so far are the two second places he claimed for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team in the 2005 season. He also took a pole position in the same year. The man from Mönchengladbach, whose daughter – and first child – was born in July 2005, has 98 race starts under his belt.
'I'm really lòòking forward to the new season and the new team, many of whom I already know from years past', says Heidfeld. 'Besides, I can get to Hinwil in 15 minutes by car, which is a real advantage. It's natural for a racing driver to be impatient when it comes to achieving success, but we need to be realistic. For me the most important thing is that we're moving in the right direction. We have to work hard and make steady progress.'
No other driver in Formula One has risen to World Champion status as rapidly as Jacques Villeneuve. In 1996, his debut year, the Canadian already finished as runner-up behind his then Williams-Renault team-mate Damon Hill. Then in 1997 he beat Michael Schumacher to the title for Williams-Renault.
In 152 grands prix he has taken eleven victories and claimed pole 13 times.
After five years wîth the BAR team, it seemed his F1 career was over in 2003. But then he was given the chance to compete in the final three races of season 2004 for Renault. In 2005, the son of the famous Ferrari driver Gilles Villeneuve was signed up by Sauber.
'Building up a new team is a very complex task', says Villeneuve lòòking ahead to 2006. 'I've already been through it in the past. But I think we've got a number of good prerequisites coming together here. I'll be doing my very best to help the BMW Sauber F1 Team achieve success.'
New regulations
The most radical technical changes for 2006 affect the engines: Formula One is switching from three-litre V10 engines to V8 units wîth 2.4 litres' displacement. The rules governing the new engines are far more tightly regulated and the scope for engineers has shrunk. The switch to the more compact V8 powerplants also brings wîth it noticeable modifications to the chassis. Among other changes, the cars will feature pared-down sidepods as the radiators can now be designed smaller than before.
Racing fans can again look forward to the spectacle of tyre changing in the pits, which has the go-ahead again as of 2006. The qualifying format is also new: for the 2006 World Championship, grid positions will be determined in a shootout. From 14.00 to 15.00 hrs on Saturday, the fast laps will be driven in three time sections, wîth the slowest drivers in the first two 15-minute periods taking no further part in qualifying, leaving the remaining drivers to compete for the best starting positions in the final session.Source - BMW Press
| 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Preview | |
 | Round 18 of the 2012 Formula One World Championship takes place in Abu Dhabi on Sunday 4 November. The race is the season's only twilight event with the lights going out at 17:00hrs at the 5.554 km Yas Marina Circuit. • DRS can be used for 59% of a qualifying lap; the season's highest value is 63% in Monza and Montreal • Only one of the three Abu Dhabi Grands Prix has been won from pole; so far in 2012, 10 of 17 races have been • Mercedes-Benz engines have averaged nearly 40 points per rac...[Read more...] |
| 2012 Singapore Grand Prix - Preview | |
 | The next race on the Formula One calendar is one of the most spectacular of the season. As the sport's only night race, the Singapore Grand Prix provides a fantastic show under the lights held around the 5.073 km Marina Bay Circuit, and has quickly become a firm favourite with fans, teams and drivers. • The Safety Car has been deployed at least once in every Singapore Grand Prix since the inaugural race in 2008 • The circuit features nine corners taken below 100 kph, more than Monaco, and ...[Read more...] |
| 2012 Canadian Grand Prix - Preview | |
 | Round Seven of the 2012 World Championship, the Canadian Grand Prix, is hosted by Montreal and takes place on Sunday 10 June at the 4.631 km Circuit Gilles Villeneuve located on the city's Ile Notre-Dame. • In the past ten years, there have been a total of 14 Safety Car periods in Montreal – including five last year • Two of the past three races in Montreal have featured at least five different leaders • The race has been won from pole three times in the past ten years – compared to ei...[Read more...] |
| Spanish Grand Prix: Race | |
 | Nico Rosberg finished the Spanish Grand Prix in seventh place today with Michael Schumacher retiring on lap13. • Nico followed a three-stop tyre strategy, pitting on laps 9, 22 and 40 • Nico's tyre usage was soft (9 laps), soft (13 laps), hard (18 laps), hard (26 laps) • Michael retired in turn one at the start of lap 13 following a collision with Bruno Senna's Williams • The 2012 season has now seen five winners from five races, something that last occurred in 1983 Nico Rosberg[...[Read more...] |
| Chinese Grand Prix: Qualifying | |
 | The MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS team locked out the front row of the grid for the Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit today with Nico Rosberg putting the F1 W03 on pole position, and Michael Schumacher qualifying in third place, although he will start the race from second position. • Nico scored his maiden Formula One pole position this afternoon, with an advantage of over half a second • Michael qualified third and will start tomorrow's race from second place following a gr...[Read more...] |
Drivers:
Nick Lars Heidfeld
Robert Józef Kubica
Jacques VilleneuveTeam
BMW Sauber F1 Team2006 SeasonPoints: 36
Position: 5
Engine: BMW P86 2.4 V8
2010 Entry: Sauber C29
2009 Entry: Sauber F1.09
2008 Entry: Sauber F1.08
2007 Entry: Sauber F1.07
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2006 Formula One Season
| 1 Series 1600 2002 2800 3 Series 3.0 CS | 3.0 CSL 3.5 CSL 318i 3200 CS 327/328 5-Series | 503 507 6 Series 7-Series 700 850 | Dixi Isetta M Coupe M1 M3 M5 | M6 New Class X1 X3 X5 X6 | Z1 Z3 Z4 Z8 |
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