BMW SAUBER F1.06

   At the end of 2005, the technical partnership between BMW and Williams came to an end, not without controversy from the Bavarian manufacturer, convinced that it had an excellent engine that was not being supported by an equally good car. As Renault, Toyota, and Honda had already done, BMW also decided to step into the game directly, not by founding its own team, but by seeking to acquire one already in existence. After receiving a firm “no” from Frank Williams regarding the acquisition of his team, BMW turned to Peter Sauber’s small outfit, which was in serious financial difficulty but, above all, was based in Hinwil, Switzerland, very close to BMW’s headquarters in Munich, Germany. The decision was officially announced as early as June 2005, and the new car for the 2006 season was the BMW Sauber F1.06.

BMW SAUBER F1.06, Jacques Villeneuve
Imola, San Marino GP 2006

   As emphasized by Burkhard Göschel, Member of the BMW Board of Management for Development and Purchasing, and Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director, the company’s decision was part of a long-term project to bring BMW to the top of Formula 1 not only as an engine supplier but also as a constructor. The work was divided between Munich, where the engine, gearbox, and electronics were developed, and the group of technicians already present in Hinwil, responsible for the entire car, who remained practically unchanged. Willy Rampf continued to serve as Technical Director, Jacky Eeckelaert remained Engineering Director, and Christoph Zimmermann was Head of Composite Design. The aerodynamics department remained under the leadership of Seamus Mullarkey (Head of Aerodynamics) and Dirk de Beer (Principal Aerodynamicist), while new figures from BMW were added, such as Matt Cranor (Head of Mechanical Design) and Ruedi Schorno (Head of Systems Engineering).

BMW SAUBER F1.06, Nick Heidfeld
Hungaroring, Hungarian GP 2006

   The new P86 V8 engine was undoubtedly the main innovation of the new F1.06, designed by Heinz Paschen (Engine Director) and Angelo Camerini (Chief Designer, Engine). The new power unit was already ready for initial track testing in November 2005, and the main differences compared to the previous V10 were the limitation on revs (19,000 RPM was the maximum permitted by the regulations), the use of fixed intake trumpets, and the use of regulated metal alloys. Despite these restrictions, the BMW V8 easily reached 750 hp, and its reduced size, along with smaller and lighter cooling masses, allowed the technicians in Hinwil to design the F1.06 with an entirely new concept. The chassis was significantly lowered in the front section, resulting in the lower wishbones no longer being attached beneath the monocoque but to the sides of the chassis. The car’s nose was also lowered relative to the ground, and the front wing was modified. The reduced cooling requirements of the V8 engine not only allowed for more compact radiators but also smaller openings in the sidepods, which benefited the car’s aerodynamics. The same applied to the roll bar with integrated air intake, whose dimensions were reduced due to the engine's lower airflow needs. The exhaust system of the new V8 was redesigned to integrate better with the new diffuser, and the rear suspension was completely new, designed specifically to work optimally with Michelin tires.

BMW SAUBER F1.06, Jacques Villeneuve
Montecarlo, Monaco GP 2006

   The new BMW Sauber F1.06 was presented on January 17 at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain, in the presence of the drivers selected for the 2006 season: Canadian former World Champion Jacques Villeneuve, already with Sauber in 2005, and German driver Nick Heidfeld, who came from Williams and was therefore already familiar with BMW engineers’ working methods. Young Polish driver Robert Kubica was chosen as the third driver, while the very young German Sebastian Vettel was selected as reserve driver. The new German team entered the 2006 season with major existing sponsors, such as Credit Suisse and Petronas, and new partners, such as Intel and O2, a computer hardware company. The new livery, kept throughout the team’s presence in Formula 1, consisted of BMW’s traditional blue and white with a touch of red. During free practice for the British Grand Prix, Villeneuve’s rear wing bore the words “Just Married,” while during practice for the final race of the season in Brazil, both cars displayed “Danke Michael” on their rear wings as a tribute to Michael Schumacher's imminent retirement from racing.

BMW SAUBER F1.06, Nick Heidfeld
Monza, Italian GP 2006

   The 2006 season was considered by the team to be a transitional year, so the car’s competitiveness, demonstrated since pre-season testing, was a pleasant surprise. After a difficult debut in Bahrain, with Heidfeld twelfth and Villeneuve retiring, from the following race and throughout the season, the F1.06 was consistently able to compete in the points. In its third outing, at the Australian Grand Prix, BMW even came close to the podium with Heidfeld, a result that would later be achieved twice before the end of the season: with Heidfeld in Hungary and with Kubica in Italy. The Polish driver replaced Villeneuve after the German Grand Prix, where the Canadian crashed heavily; the team then used the incident as a pretext for his dismissal, although tensions between BMW management and Villeneuve had been running high for some time. After Kubica’s promotion to race driver, future four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel found space as third driver and took part in Friday practice sessions during the final five races of the championship. BMW’s first season as a constructor in Formula 1 can be considered a success, with the team finishing fifth in the Constructors’ Championship with 36 points.