16 months to the day after BMW announced a major shift in its Formula One involvement - the Munich company disclosed its takeover of the majority stake in Sauber on 22nd June 2005 - the first season with a BMW led team is already history. As its maiden year in motor sport's top-echelon event draws to a close, the new BMW Sauber F1 Team can report a positive final outcome.

The German-Swiss team finished fifth in the constructors' championship.

In the duel with Toyota, the BMW Sauber F1 Team managed to secure a narrow 36 : 35 victory. In the season's 18 races, Mönchengladbach driver Nick Heidfeld made it into the points ten times, collecting a tally of 23 and finishing ninth in the drivers' championship. Robert Kubica of Poland, who replaced Jacques Villeneuve (7 points) from round 13 on, contributed six points and finished 16th. Heidfeld secured the first podium place of the season in Budapest when he crossed the finishing line in third place. Kubica likewise came third at Monza in only his third Formula One GP.

The BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers made the third round of qualifying 19 times in all. Jointly they got into the top ten qualifying seven times.

 "All in all, this is more than the motor sport world could have expected of a newly established team,” said Mario Theissen. “But far more important than that is the fact we managed to make steady progress throughout the season and narrowed the gap to the competition. The grand prix stage is gradually revealing all the hard graft and determined effort that go on behind the scenes."