Sauber race numbers to be decided on Monday

The race numbers to be allocated to the Sauber team in 2010 are still uncertain.

At the end of November, and in the wake of BMW’s withdrawal, the FIA issued an entry list prior to the confirmation of the Swiss team’s ongoing participation.

BMW-Sauber finished the 2009 season in sixth place, meaning that in theory the Hinwil based team’s drivers should this year wear the race numbers 11 and 12.

Fifth placed Toyota, however, has withdrawn, meaning that Kamui Kobayashi and Pedro de la Rosa may receive the numbers 9 and 10.

The team’s desire to have the numbers 9 and 10, rather than 26 and 27, could explain the reluctance so far to apply to change the official name from BMW-Sauber, even in the wake of the German carmaker’s complete withdrawal from F1.

But this will have implications for Williams, Renault, Force India, Toro Rosso and all four of F1’s new teams, who would have their confirmed race numbers pushed back by two at short notice.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport said the issue will be discussed at Monday’s Paris meeting of the F1 Commission.

Also reportedly to be discussed is a possible reduction in each driver’s allocation of tyres, with Bridgestone proposing a reduction from 14 to 10 sets.

The teams are reportedly proposing to compromise by settling for 11 sets per driver.

© RIF|GMM