Formula One news

BMW tempering 2009 title talk

After moving its focus to 2009 having taken its maiden victory in the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix, the BMW Sauber F1 team is now facing up to a season in which it is aiming to, and expected to mount a more concerted fight for the championship.

"I don't feel comfortable, but it's my own goal as well as the team's and we have clear targets," BMW boss Mario Theissen said about his team's goal of being a championship contender in 2009. "There's no real comfort zone in F1 though."

Theissen's comments came after a BMW board member told reporters that the championship was the team's clear goal next season.

"We've kept to our plan that was set in 2005 when we acquired Sauber: to be regular points scorers in 2006, to finish on the podium in 2007 and to win a race in 2008," added Theissen who has always been careful to temper expectations of his outfit. "We made it a three-way battle in the championship in the first half of 2008."

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