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November 5th, 2009

Theissen facing anxious wait over 2010

BMW Motorsport boss Mario Theissen is hoping Sauber’s future is resolved by the end of the year.

BMW’s four-season foray in Formula One concluded with Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and it leaves Sauber fighting to secure a place on the grid for 2010 because although the FIA are willing to include them as the 14th team, there is opposition, primarily from the likes of Williams. If Sauber are unable to obtain 100% agreement from all the teams, it becomes a waiting game, hoping for another marque to fall by the wayside.

“Everybody says it’s very likely another team will go, that we are unlikely to have 14 teams ready for next year, maybe not even 13,” said Theissen. “But that’s all speculation at the moment. What we know is there’s no unanimous agreement on the 14th team, so another team pulling out is the easiest way (to be in F1) from our perspective.”

He added: “Naturally the backers are keen to have a decision soon because you can only sign driver and sponsor contracts when you have a place on the grid, so they are pushing, together with us.

“There is no clear deadline on this, but obviously it becomes more difficult day by day.

“I don’t think, though, we could leave it as late as mid-January. I hope it will be decided before the end of the year.”