Austrian GP Williams race notes

A mixed result for the BMW WilliamsF1 team with Jenson Button finishing fifth -- having started 18th -- and Ralf Schumacher retiring after having struggled for the whole race with brake problems.

Jenson Button
Position: 5th
Chassis: FW22 04
Best Time: 1:12.964 on lap 46 (7th)

"It was a very hard race. The first corner was pretty tough to find a way through. I not quite sure how I came out of it at the end. It was good to follow the Sauber of Mika Salo and also the Jaguar of Johnny Herbert to see what the differences were. The team did a good job with my pit stop, we pitted a bit later than some of the others but unfortunately, Jacques Villeneuve was able to just pop out of the pits in front of me. My second set of tyres seemed to be a bit more loose on the rear giving me some oversteer which caused my little excursion which was a mistake on my part as well. I am happy to get two more points for the team and roll on the next race."

Ralf Schumacher
Position: DNF
Chassis: FW22 02
Best Time: 1:12.811 on lap 42 (5th) "I had a good start but I was blocked, being on the outer side of the fracas at the first corner. Bad luck. The race was pretty much over for me there and then. After changing the nose I experienced a problem with the left front brake, where probably something had got loose. The rest of the laps were practically a test session. Today wasn't my day."

Frank Williams
"Clearly everyone -- except Ralf -- is delighted. We collected two points when we maybe shouldn't have done so. We now need to continually improve. Jenson really excelled himself again driving in difficult circumstances at the end of the race and under a lot of pressure. Another useful finish for BMW and our own little championship race."

Gerhard Berger (BMW Motorsport Director)
"This is a great result for us, with these two points we are third again in the Constructors' championship. This race is a good example that you should never give in and never lose your hope, but always give the maximum, even when the starting position looks hopeless. Ralf had no luck today. Apart from one mistake Jenson drove an outstanding race, the first corner melee at the start was obviously to our advantage."

TEST: The BMW WilliamsF1 Team will be testing in Silverstone from Tuesday 18th to Thursday 20th (half day) July. Ralf Schumacher will be on duty for the first day and Jenson Button will take over for the second and the third days.