They explained why BMW is interested going into partnership with Sauber. Despite many rumors that the VW group (VW, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bently) was not interested in joining F1. Well it seems this was not the case. Porsche are interested in going into partnership with Sauber. When BMW heard of this they decided to go with Sauber as well because it would be much cheaper for BMW to go into partnership with Sauber. BMW wants to buy Sauber because that would save them of having to pay a $48 million to start their own team and also to stop Porsche from going into partnership with Sauber.
Speaking of engines, I picked up the December/January 2004/2005 Race Tech and there's a fantastic article (among others) about Formula One Engine Technology. Focus is on the V-10. Some tid-bits: "By 1997 a Formula One engine on the Dyno was merely warming the oil at 10,000 rpm." "In fact, the BMW engine reached 19,050 rpm in propelling Montoya's Williams to the fastest Formula One lap of all time: 161.467 mph. By the end of the season the BMW's top end power was (officially) 'close to 900 bhp'. In 2003 both BMW and Honda exceeded 900 bhp, BMW reaching 19,200 rpm in qualifying and producing 910 bhp at 18,600 rpm. Honda's V10 had comparable output, attaining 900 bhp in time for the mid-season Candian GP. The need for the engine to run to the best part of 800 kilometers in 2004 didn't stop power from increasing. This year the Honda was the most powerful engine, starting the season where it had finished the previous one: 920 bhp, stepping up to 930 bhp by mid-season and exeeding 950 bhp by the end of the season. Such was the relentless march of V10 horsepower."
Williams has probably come to the end of its life. Sir Frank Williams will be leaving withing a few years. His physical limitations are going to force him to do so, sooner or later. Williams might end up becoming a kit car race team in the GPCW with McLaren. I think in all we will see many more new factory based teams in F1. Mercedes F1 Team, Porshe Racing, BMW F1... all the stupid GPWC crowd like McLaren and Williams will end up driving generic carts in the GPWC. Honda will soon completely take over BAR Honda.... and become a more respectable Honda F1 team. Toyota will remain Toyota.... bad road cars, bad race cars... econo box mentality and econo box results in F1.
BMW is one of the break away supporters of the anti F1 group. Others like Toyota, Honda, Ren. etc are fond of seeing a new series come to be that they control not Bernie & Ferrari controling everything about the sport. For that to happen at the others (except Ferrari) will have to supply engines to these "private" teams to allow a full grid on race day. BMW (and others) will supply engines to the teams they believe can provide the best results on track and allow this alternative race program to get off the ground. Sauber has done a great job as a private team of late, I bet Toyota and others would be willing to partner with them also.
