BMW Sauber restructures technical department
By BMW Sauber F1 Team
June 26 2008
The BMW Sauber F1 Team is restructuring the management of its technical department. Walter Riedl will be responsible for business operations and line management as of 1st November. Willy Rampf, currently Technical Director, will take up the post of Technical Coordinator on 1st November 2008.
Rampf will continue to be responsible for the vehicle concept and lead the team at the race track in his new role. However, responsibility for business operations and line management will pass to Walter Riedl, who already heads up operations at the Hinwil plant and overall project management in his capacity as Managing Director. Riedl will also retain these functions.
The change has come about at the express wish of Willy Rampf, who has been keen to reduce his work schedule: "I have been Technical Director since April 2000, initially at Sauber, and now for the BMW Sauber F1 Team. It has been an extremely enjoyable but also very intense phase of my life. The idea of cutting back professionally has been growing in my mind for some time already. I discussed the subject with Mario Theissen and we have found a solution together. I'm looking forward to focusing on my original technical responsibilities again and am in no doubt that we can continue to build on our success."
BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen added: "I can totally understand that Willy Rampf wants to cut down on his workload. I'm pleased that we have found an internal solution with the new structure, one which fits in with the philosophy of the team. All responsibilities will continue to lie in the hands of experienced managers who have played a key role throughout the development phase of the young team. At the same time, the team will continue to benefit from Willy's expertise and great experience. His contribution to the team - both before and after BMW acquired a majority stake - deserves the utmost respect. His record is extremely impressive, and our one-two victory in Montreal represents the crowning moment of his time with us so far."
Walter Riedl will take over responsibility for the BMW Sauber F1.09 development process with immediate effect, while Rampf will continue to look after the further development of the BMW Sauber F1.08. As Riedl explains: "I have already been working very closely and very effectively with Willy Rampf, and this cooperation will now reach another new level. The new structure guarantees continuity and ensures that the BMW Sauber F1 Team is in good shape for the future."
Riedl joined BMW as a development engineer in 1983 and has worked in a leading position in Formula One for nine years. Since 1999 he has been the responsible manager for the BMW Formula One project. Riedl took over the management of the Hinwil factory on 1st January 2006 following the company's decision to acquire a majority stake in Sauber. He has also been responsible for project management across both locations since the summer of 2005.
The team said Rampf will continue to be responsible for the vehicle concept, but his responsibility for business operations and line management will pass to Walter Riedl.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:06:27:00:24:59 by TheContrarian.
Willy has some very good tech skills, and this will allow him to work more closely in the car concept. It could help avoiding the problems during off season we had due to a complex but not refined initial concept/preparation.
Interesting that it will take place when the season is over, which indicates:
1st BMW knows it has to focus for the real deal, make it or break it, year, 2009.
2nd This restructuration (unlike other teams) is not because of any internal problems (in that case it would take place almost with inmediate effect).
3rd This can be the first step of more re-organization steps (including a few more engineers joining) for the Championship aspirations of BMW Sauber, and will allow the team to work more effiently (currently Willy was overloaded, especially during the GP's, as we discussed once in the off-season).
4th Willy needed some more time for his life, which is something very understandable, and could help him doing better his job too.
Win-win situation, isn't it?
Lets hope i pays off next year.
Racing against the machine!
Quote:J-Raid
2nd This restructuration (unlike other teams) is not because of any internal problems (in that case it would take place almost with inmediate effect).
Ahmadi was a problem last year and BMW replaced him only after the season. This time could be the same...
TS:
Kubica said in Barcelona test that new front wing is not helping, but Heidfeld was positive about it and team decided to use it. In the end, Kubica was right, it didnt work. Both drivers had similar problems in the race.
ITV:
Kubica: "Unfortunately when we did tests in Barcelona, I saw some things but we decided to do something different because the team was convinced it was the right way to go"
That was the last nail to Rampf's coffin...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:06:29:12:06:01 by barteks.
Quote:barteks
I think now it's clear why such decision was taken...
That was the last nail to Rampf's coffin...
Iīm not sure about this. You see, Rampf will be dedicated to the development of the f1.08 from now on.
I think its more of a nail to Robertīs coffin for the WDC title chances. Just joking.
BMW Power
IMHO
1) bad decisions taken during one weekend
2) BMW Sauber restructurisation
are no related at all.
