By Sarah Holt
BBC Sport in Monaco |
  BMW's Robert Kubica has been far from happy with his car this season |
BMW Sauber boss Mario Theissen says the team's continued involvement in Formula 1 depends on the outcome of current talks to decide the sport's future. Theissen denied the German manufacturer would quit at the end of the season. But he revealed the team's future could rest on the 2010 rule changes under discussion by governing body, the FIA, and teams' association Fota. "If the framework and the conditions change greatly that would be a reason for us to review the project," he said. Team bosses met with FIA president Max Mosley in Monte Carlo on Friday to discuss their opposition to his proposed £40m budget cap. With the deadline for 2010 entries looming on Friday, Fota met again on Saturday, ahead of Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix, to discuss their next move.  | F1 MOLE BLOG |
"It was positive to have Friday's meeting and to discuss the issues, but we have not arrived at a decision," added Theissen. However, the BMW boss insisted the team's disappointing performance this season would not affect the German car giant's decision on its future. BMW have scored only six points in 2009 thanks to Nick Heidfeld's four points in Malaysia and seventh place in Barcelona. In Monaco, Heidfeld and Kubica qualified in 17th and 18th, respectively. "It's been the worse qualifying performance we have had," said Theissen, who was at the helm when BMW made their debut in 2006. "We are analysing the reasons behind this but I don't have an explanation yet. However, this is a single event and has nothing to do with long-term strategy." Robert Kubica, who finished fourth in the 2008 drivers' standings after winning his first GP in Canada, echoed the sentiments of his team boss. The Polish driver kept his eyes shaded behind dark sunglasses as he conceded BMW's short-term prospects looked gloomy. "We have been struggling for a long time," said Kubica. "This is not a problem that was born two days ago. "We want a miracle to happen but I don't think they happen so often, especially when we're talking about the performance in F1. "But I was prepared to be struggling so it's not a huge disappointment. I like to win, but it's not possible at the moment and frustration doesn't help." Kubica remained hopeful that BMW could take inspiration from Ferrari and McLaren, who were well off the pace of frontrunners Brawn Grand Prix in the opening races, and turn around their performance on track in the coming races. "You saw the power of Ferrari and McLaren; they were really behind but they are showing they are strong in Monaco," he added. "They don't need five months (to turn things around) they need five weeks. "We have to take such a step if we want to get back in the fight."
| 
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?