Sauber Awaits Red Bull's Decision Next Month

Red Bull are expected to make a decision next month whether to part ways with Sauber or stay with the Swiss team, Peter Sauber revealed this weekend.

The energy drink maker has been primary sponsor as well as shareholder for Sauber Grand Prix, but have been also sponsoring driver Enrique Bernoldi since he was running in F3000. Prior to the start of the 2001 season, Red Bull wanted Sauber to sign Bernoldi as their second driver, alongside German Nick Heidfeld. However, Sauber elected to sign Kimi Raikkonen - a young and inexperienced driver, with only 23 races behind him in open wheel racing. Following that decision, Red Bull announced that it will withdraw from Sauber at the end of 2001.

However, twelve races into the season, Raikkonen has proved to be one of the most acclaimed new entries to Formula One in recent years, and now Sauber says even Red Bull acknowledges he has made the right choice.

"They told me that as far as the drivers line-up goes, I made the correct choice," Sauber told Atlas F1, but he added that this may not be enough to change Red Bull executives' minds about leaving his team.

"The differences of opinion between us and Red Bull weren't just about whether I take Kimi or Bernoldi," Sauber explained. "It exploded over it, true, but it wasn't just that. Therefore, we still don't know what they will do. I hope they will stay with us - we'll know their decision in about a month."

Sauber also confirmed that both Raikkonen and Heidfeld will continue with the team next year, as he now focuses on securing more sponsorship deals for the 2002 season.

"We had a very good season so far," Sauber said, "and we have, as a result, a very good [media] coverage. But you would think running in fourth [in the Constructors' Championship] would be helpful in securing sponsorship and I hope that it does, but it's not as easy as it seems."