Zoom The end of an era as BMW pull the plug

Nick Heidfeld had an emotional last few laps with BMW Sauber on Sunday, but a post-race gesture by the team's founder might have cheered him up.

The Hinwil-based team's owner BMW now departs Formula One, and although bought by the Qadbak consortium, Sauber does not have a guaranteed entry to return to the grid in 2010.

Heidfeld raced for Sauber's privateer team in 2001-2003, before returning to the Swiss camp for the start of the BMW era four years ago.

"It now becomes very emotional," said Heidfeld after finishing fifth and ensuring the team move ahead of his former team Williams in the standings. "During the last laps I had to pull myself together in order to keep my concentration. "

The team signed off on Sunday night by revealing that Heidfeld is to receive a special parting gift.

"As a thank you for Nick Heidfeld's seven years of great commitment to the team in Hinwil, Peter Sauber is giving him a Formula One car from this era," the team said.

E.A. © CAPSIS International
Source: GMM