Sport Industry Group

Sauber gifts shares to team CEO- 17 May 2012 00:00:00

Peter Sauber has transferred a third of the equity in his team to chief executive officer Monisha Kaltenborn with a team spokesman adding that the shares were "a gift" and no financial transaction was involved.

Team principal Sauber, who has retained the remainder of the shares, said the decision represented an important step in providing continuity for the Formula One team.

Sauber explained that Kaltenborn had been instrumental in the team's survival, following the decision of former partner BMW to pull out of F1 at the end of 2009.

He added: ‘Monisha Kaltenborn and my son Alex, who joined the company as marketing director in 2010 and has since also been a member of the board of management, both embrace this aim. It means we can offer our employees a positive outlook for the future.’

Sauber entered F1 in 1993, initially as the works team for Mercedes engines, but continued as a privateer until they were bought by BMW in 2006.

The team achieved their only victory during the BMW era, when Robert Kubica won the Canadian Grand Prix in 2008.

BMW's withdrawal at the end of 2009 cast doubt on the team's future, but Sauber were able to raise the money to continue.

The team have generally been midfield runners but this year has seen a marked upturn in form, with the cars regularly qualifying in the top 10 and contending for points.