Sauber insists ‘no plans’ to sell Swiss team

Peter Sauber

(GMM) Peter Sauber has denied the signing of Telmex as a major new sponsor means he might be prepared to sell his Swiss formula one team.

On Monday, the Hinwil based team announced that Telmex, headed by the richest man in the world Carlos Slim, will have "a significant presence" on the livery of next year's Sauber car.

The deal involves Mexican GP2 driver Sergio Perez joining as race driver, with the 20-year-old the most prominent member of the company's motor sport arm Escuderia Telmex.

"For Telmex and our racing project it's a great step forward," said Slim's son Carlos Slim Domit, chairman of the Mexico City-based company.

Swiss newspaper Blick, traditionally close to Sauber, said the two-year deal is worth about 20 million Swiss francs (EUR 15m).

"And who knows whether Slim will buy his new toy completely," the report speculated.

But amid lingering rumors that GP2 team ART's Nicolas Todt was also keen on buying into Sauber, boss Peter Sauber told the Daily Telegraph that is not going to happen.

"I own 100 per cent of the shares, and I have no plans to sell the team or part of it," he insisted.

But having fielded a mainly blank livery in 2010 after the BMW withdrawal and the Qadbak sale debacle, the 66-year-old sounded relieved to have inked the major deal.

"With Telmex we want to send a clear message to other (potential) sponsors," Sauber told Blick.