A lot of Competition for BMW Sauber in 2009

Can BMW Sauber challenge for the championship next year with either Robert Kubica or Nick Heidfeld? A better question I ask myself is what will the competition be like? We know 2009 is a new year with incredible rule changes that may or may not affect some teams level of competitiveness.

I am not really worried about the grid hierarchy changing in 2009 and in that respect can BMW Sauber challenge for the championship in only their 4th year? Just recently BMW board member Klaus Draeger said that in 2009 BMW Sauber will fight for the championship which left Mario Theissen a little uncomfortable in the face of such bold statement, but it also was Mario Theissen who earlier had said the same thing.

There may be other reasons why Mario is backing off a little on this declaration and that comes from just down pit row in the name of Renault and in particular Fernando Alonso with Renault. In 2008 BMW Sauber were rolling along with little competition from behind and their entire focus was in front of them and not behind. Why look behind when there’s no one there right? Now, as we witnessed, BMW tailed off a little bit while Renault got their act together and actually overtook them in the last half of the season. Fernando Alonso would have been the F1 champion if the season was only the second half. It’s pretty amazing stuff from Renault and Fernando and what about Red Bull with Sebastian Vettel next season. He has already proven he’s a winner and if the Red Bull fits him, he’s going to be in the mix as well. Things could get a little crowded around the team next season.

From my perspective, the team have a lot to work on yet and flying below the radar as they did last winter is probably the best way to go rather than board room members far away from the front line making strong statements.

Don’t tell me you’re going to challenge for the championship next season, show me!