Mario Theissen

Mario Theissen is a German engineer born the August 17th 1952 with Montjoie in Germany. He is the current director of BMW Motorsport as well as the director of the stable of Formule 1 BMW Sauber F1 TEAM.

Biography

Engineer at BMW since 1977, Mario Theissen is named in April 1999 deputy manager of BMW Motorsport. He initially shares his responsibilities with the Austrian old driver of Formule 1 Gerhard Berger, and its function is then primarily to direct the technical part of BMW Motorsport, while Berger has especially charges the sporting aspects with them. The arrival of Theissen intervenes during one time of strong activity for the Bavarian mark, in particular committed with the 24 hours of Mans (victory in June 1999) but which is especially preparing its return Formulates some 1 since an agreement was signed with the team Williams since 1998, for a partnership as from the season 2000.

In 2003, the progressive catch of retreat of Gerhard Berger makes it possible Mario Theissen to become the single director of BMW Motorsport, and to reach responsibilities which exceed the strict technical framework. It is also at this period that the relationship between BMW and Williams starts to worsen, Mario Theissen not hesitating to publicly criticize the insufficiencies of its partner.

In 2005, while the degradation of the relationship between Williams and BMW reached a point of nonreturn, Mario Theissen manages to convince the leaders of BMW more to limit themselves to the role of motor mechanic, but to become manufacturer of Formula 1 with whole share. In June 2005, BMW repurchases the Swiss stable Sauber to give birth as from the season 2006 to the BMW Sauber F1 TEAM, whose Mario Theissen is logically named director. For its first season, the stable finishes 5th championship of the manufacturers.

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