BMW-Sauber is indeed in the running to clinch the 2009 title

Mario Theissen for BMW-Sauber reiterated the team’s goal for the 2009 season: To fight for the championships. However, the team manager is not comfortable with this idea.

« I don’t feel comfortable but you have to have clear objectives. Formula 1 is not, absolutely, a relaxing sport, » declared Theissen this weekend during a car event in Munich where BMW participated.

Theissen came to comment on the follow-up to a bold statement by Klaus Draege, a member of the BMW board, who announced: « In 2009, we will fight for the championship. »

The German team won its first Grand Prix this year, even though it was unable to match its development rate with that of the top teams in the final part of the season. Ultimately, BMW-Sauber finished in third place in the Constructors’ Championship.

Despite this, the German recalled that all goals, since the union with Sauber, have been achieved.

« BMW maintained its schedule that was established in 2005 after acquiring Sauber: be in the points in 2006, be on the podium in 2007, win a race in 2008, » added Theissen.

« Reliability had been an issue in 2007, so we focused on this point in 2008 and the results are more than satisfactory: Not a single retirement this year due to a technical failure. »