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Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber C29
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Special feature

How Sauber twice saved itself from the brink of extinction

Having almost lost its entry for the 2010 season following BMW's withdrawal, Sauber's recovery hit the buffers when Formula 1 switched to V6 hybrid engines in 2014 and the end appeared in sight. Here's how it turned its fortunes around not once, but twice.

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When BMW made the sudden decision in the summer of 2009 to quit Formula 1 at the end of the season, the future of Sauber looked precarious. It would not be the only time in the decade to follow that deep uncertainty would linger around the halls of Hinwil.

As teams and manufacturers came and went from F1, Sauber was often left scrambling to try and stay afloat and keep racing. And yet through its fight for survival, time and time again, it managed to thrive and take the fight to F1's establishment, proving its importance within the category's modern tapestry.

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Edition

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