The contract was signed in June 2005, and by 2006 the BMW Sauber F1 Team was making its debut in the FIA Formula One World Championship. In 2007 the team successfully concluded its build-up phase and established as third power in Formula One. Here, you can take a detailed look at the history of the young squad. 22nd June 2005 BMW’s takeover of the majority stake in Sauber AG is announced at a press conference in Munich. 14th November 2005 The name “BMW Sauber F1 Team“ is confirmed. 24th November 2005 The BMW Sauber F1 Team and PETRONAS sign a four-year contract in Kuala Lumpur. 15th December 2005 The BMW Group and Intel announce a comprehensive partnership. 1st January 2006 BMW completes the shareholding takeover. 16th/17th January 2006 The BMW Sauber F1 Team presents itself to the public in Valencia. The BMW Sauber F1.06 has its first outing. February 2006 Planning application for the extension of the Hinwil facility. 12th March 2006 The BMW Sauber F1 Team contests its first Grand Prix in Bahrain. 19th March 2006 The team secures its first World Championship points in the second race: Jacques Villeneuve comes seventh in Malaysia. 2nd April 2006 The third GP sees both drivers finishing in the points: in Australia, Nick Heidfeld comes fourth and Villeneuve sixth. May 2006 Work begins on the design of the BMW Sauber F1.07. 6th May 2006 Dell becomes an official partner of the team. 6th August 2006 Robert Kubica competes in his first Formula One race in Budapest. In the team's 13th World Championship race, Heidfeld secures its first podium place. 25th August 2006 In Istanbul, Sebastian Vettel takes on the task of the team's Friday driver for the first time. September 2006 Start of the construction phase for the Sauber F1.07. 10th September 2006 Kubica comes third in Monza to pick up the second trophy. October 2006 The wind tunnel in Hinwil is now running three shifts daily. One year previously it was on a single daily shift. 19th October 2006 The 2007 drivers are announced: Heidfeld and Kubica as team racing drivers, Vettel as test and reserve driver. 22nd October 2006 The BMW Sauber F1 Team finishes its debut year in fifth place in the Constructors' Championship. 28th November 2006 Start of winter testing in Barcelona. 16th January 2007 Presentation of the BMW Sauber F1.07 and the BMW Sauber F1 Team in Valencia. 1st March 2007 Deadline for submitting the final specifications of the homologation engine for the 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 World Championships to the FIA. 18th March 2007 First Grand Prix of the 2007 season in Melbourne. 10th June 2007 The Canadian GP is a very turbulent event: While Robert Kubica manages to escape a terrible accident virtually without a scratch Nick Heidfeld finishes second– the best individual result of the BMW Sauber F1 Team to date. 5th August 2007 In Hungary, Heidfeld finishes third, thus claiming the fourth podium result for the BMW Sauber F1 Team. 21st August 2007 The BMW Sauber F1 Team confirms that Heidfeld and Kubica will remain the team’s GP regulars in 2008. 21st October 2007 During the season final in Brazil the team is able to increase their overall tally to impressive 101 world championship points. 14th/15th January 2008 The BMW Sauber F1.08 is officially presented to the public in Munich’s BMW Welt. Afterwards, the new car is taken to Valencia, where it celebrates its track debut.
