BMW launched its own team, BMW Sauber F1, in the 2006 Formula One Season. The 2009 BMW Formula One car is known as the F1.09. Sadly, it has been a disappointment.
BMW has traditionally been a engine supplier to independent teams in Formula One, not a wholly owned and controlled team itself. That all ended in 2005 when the team ended its relationship with Williams and purchased the Sauber F1 team. BMW proceeded to launch its own cars under the BMW Sauber name starting in 2006 and had been progressing nicely with the first win coming in the Canadian Grand Prix in 2008.
The 2009 Formula One Season was supposed to be a real breakthrough for the BMW team. Unfortunately, it simply has not worked out that way. The 2009 car has pretty much been a disaster from the start of the season. The drivers regularly have problems getting to the second session of qualifying much less competing for wins. Regardless, here’s a video of the car:
So, is there any good news regarding the 2009 BMW Formula One car at all? Yes. Although the car is uncompetitive, it is being used as a guinea pig for the 2010 design. The team is near to dead last in points, so there is little reason not to try aggressive part designs and the like. Although the team says it is still developing the 2009 car, few believe it.
Will the 2010 BMW Formula One car be any better than the 2009 version? Yes, it has to be because there is nowhere to go but up. Look for much better results in the 2010 F1 season.
