BMW won't buy Sauber

There has been considerable speculation regarding the possible purchase of the Sauber F1 team by BMW. But one person who does not believe that this will occur is WilliamsF1 team head Frank Williams

The speculation regarding BMW's interest in Sauber has been fuelled by comments from BMW representatives who feel that the WilliamsF1 team is not performing well enough. So far in the 2005 season the WilliamsF1 and BMW partnership has only seen one podium finish with Nick Heidfeld's third place in Malaysia.

Williams would comment on these comments by saying: "From what I read on the papers, Mario Theissen says we are not good enough," said Williams. "It's his opinion, and he has the right to express it.

"In fact, with them we've won in every year of our collaboration, except for the first one, when however they had a completely different engine and they had been missing from F1 for a long time.

"During this time, we have always been the second or third team with the best results. In any case, that's all behind now."

As for what BMW's plans are for the future Williams felt that the purchase of Sauber was not likely to happen but that he was not part of such discussions that BMW may have been having regarding their future evolvement, apart from the fact that it was most unlikely that BMW and WilliamsF1 would part company.

In an interview for the Autosprint magazine Williams said: "I don't think they really want to buy Peter Sauber's team, and I don't think Peter wants to sell it."

But he did add "Really, I don't know what will happen."

As the likelihood that BMW will be supplying Sauber engines next season Williams said: "Let's not forget that every manufacturer publicly pledged to supply a second team.Maybe that's what they want to do with Sauber. It would be their decision, which I respect and which I can't interfere with."