BMW Sauber F1.06

The BMW Sauber F1.06 was the car with which the BMW Sauber team competed in the F1|2006 Formula One season. It was driven by Nick Heidfeld, who joined from Williams, and Jacques Villeneuve, who had spent one season with the team before it was bought by BMW. However, the Canadian was replaced by third driver Robert Kubica before the season finished. The year marked the first time that BMW had competed as a full team; previously it had only supplied engines.

The 2006 season was treated as very much a transitional year by the team, so the car's level of competitiveness was a pleasant surprise. The F1.06 was a contender for points throughout the season, and its form culminated with two podium finishes: one for Heidfeld at the Hungaroring, and the other for Kubica at Monza.

BMW Sauber also developed the car throughout the year, with some sort of improvement available at every race. The team's innovation even caused controversy: a "flexible" rear wing was stiffened early in the season and two vertical pylons in front of the cockpit were banned after an appearance at Magny-Cours.

The team eventually finished fifth in the Constructors' Championship, with 36 points.

Complete Formula One results

() (results in bold indicate pole position)

References

*cite book| last =Henry| first =Alan (ed.)| authorlink =Alan Henry| coauthors =| title =AUTOCOURSE 2006-2007| publisher =Crash Media Group| date =2006| location =| pages =pp. 76-78| url =| doi =| id =ISBN 1-905334-15-X