Teams still in running for sponsor Petronas

Toyota’s F1 exit has been unofficially hailed as the saviour of the Sauber team, who were waiting for a spot to open up on the 2010 grid. But as yet the Hinwil based team has made no formal comment.

Founder Peter Sauber tells Switzerland’s 20min.ch: “The (takeover) contract between BMW and Qadbak is only in force if the FIA officially confirms the entry for 2010.

“BMW is still the owner and is therefore responsible for the communication.  Personally I’m in the passenger seat at the moment,” the Swiss added.

In the wake of Toyota’s announcement this week, the FIA said it was studying the legality of the move because it has “a direct bearing on the admission of any future 13th entry”.

Lotus, as well as other formula one teams, are still in the running to capture the support of long time BMW-Sauber sponsor Petronas.

It was reported this week that, with Sauber’s new owners Qadbak looking likely to be admitted to the 2010 grid, Petronas was happy to stay with the Hinwil based team in 2010.

But Malaysian-owned Lotus F1’s new chief executive Riad Asmat said the team as well as its rivals are also vying to win the Petronas logos.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if the entire F1 grid had approached them, because from our understanding Petronas was not obliged to remain as sponsor of Sauber,” he told the New Straits Times.

“Everyone basically knew that this was the last year of Petronas with Sauber,” he added.

Petronas, to continue as the main sponsor of the Malaysian GP next year, confirmed to the Bernama news agency that the existing BMW-Sauber deal has now finished.

“Petronas’ partnership with the BMW-Sauber team, which is a progression of its earlier relationship with Sauber, has now come to an end following BMW’s decision to exit formula one at the end of the season,” the company said.

source: GMM