Sauber poised to request name change

Peter Sauber is poised to lodge an application to change the name of his Formula 1 team, AUTOSPORT has learned, after he carried the BMW moniker into the new season

Despite the withdrawal of German car manufacturer BMW from F1, the outfit kept its 'BMW Sauber F1 Team' name for the start of the year.

Sauber did not request a pre-season title change, and name changes are not easy to take place because they can run the risk of teams losing out on vital television rights income.

However, although no move was made before the first race, Sauber has confirmed that now the season is underway his team will request a change - although when exactly has not been decided.

"We will submit an application for a chassis name change, but the timing has yet to be decided," he said when asked by AUTOSPORT about the naming situation. "It will happen some time this season."

The BMW Sauber team is currently without a title sponsor for 2010, and Sauber admitted that his outfit was unlikely to get one now until next year.

"We have still a white car unfortunately, because it is impossible to find sponsors during January and February - especially big sponsors," he explained about the team's financial situation.

"Today we are looking for sponsors for the 2011 season. I hope we will find some sponsors for this season."

Sauber expressed some hope, however, that if the outfit concluded a deal for 2011 it may be able to bring the sponsorship forward into this season.

"If we find a title sponsor for 2011 in the middle of the year then maybe we can have them for this season too," he said.