BMW-Sauber


2006 car: BMW-Sauber F106.

Engine: BMW.
Tyres: Michelin.

Team Base: Hinwil, Switzerland.
Team Chief: Mario Theissen.

Technical Director: Willy Rampf.
Test Driver: Robert Kubica (Poland).

First F1 GP: n/a. Last Year: n/a.
History:

Races: 0. Points: 0. Wins: 0.
Best hampionship position: n/a.


16 Jacques Villeneuve


Born: April 9, 1971, Canada. GP debut: Australia, 1996. Starts: 148. Wins: 11. Poles: 13. Fastest laps: 9. Points: 228. Best ch'ship position: 1st, 81pts (1997).


17 Nick Heidfeld


Born: May 19, 1977, Germany. GP debut: Australia, 2000. Starts: 101. Wins: 0.


Poles: 0. Fastest laps: 0. Points: 56. Best ch'ship position: 8th, 12pts (2001).


Sauber hang on in the title out of courtesy. This is BMW's baby, their first venture as an F1 constructor.


Having persuaded BMW to divorce Williams and buy up Sauber, team principal Mario Theissen has given himself three years to produce a winning car.


BMW have assumed Sauber's Hinwil base in Switzerland, complete with state-of-the-art wind tunnel, which should allow them to find their feet quickly.


And in Nick Heidfeld, BMW have an assured pair of hands capable of making the most on offer. Jacques Villeneuve survives for one more year, probably his last.