The New York Timesreports that BMW has pulled out of Formula One raising. BMW's chairman Norbert Reithofer said a press conference that the decision was a difficult one.
"Of course, this was a difficult decision for us," said Norbert Reithofer, BMW’s chairman, at a press conference at BMW headquarters in Munich.
"But it's a resolute step in view of our company's strategic realignment," he said. "Premium will increasingly be defined in terms of sustainability and environmental compatibility. This is an area in which we want to remain in the lead. Our Formula One campaign is thus less a key promoter for us."
BMW has had a factory team, BMW Sauber, since 2006.
Last year was an encouraging season for the team. Robert Kubica gave the team its first Formula One win at the Canadian Grand Prix, and BMW Sauber scored 11 podium finishes, ending the season third in the constructors’ title, behind Ferrari and McLaren-Mercedes.
Things have been quite the opposite this year. The team had failed to cope with rules changes. After 10 races, the team had only one podium, a second-place finish in a rain-shortened race in Malaysia, and has scored only eight points. Kubica was 15th out 20 drivers in the championship; his teammate, Nick Heidfeld, was 13th.
Driver Nick Heidfeld wrote on his website that BMW's move was "totally unexpected." You can see part of the BMW press conference in the video clip below.
The New York Times 
