Formula 1
Disappointing end to season for Williams
After coming so close to winning one, or perhaps even both of the championships, the end of the 2003 season was a little bit of a let down for Williams. Not so long ago there was just one point between Juan Pablo Montoya and Michael Schumacher, and ...
Edited: Oct 15, 2003, 2:56 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
After coming so close to winning one, or perhaps even both of the championships, the end of the 2003 season was a little bit of a let down for Williams. Not so long ago there was just one point between Juan Pablo Montoya and Michael Schumacher, and Williams was leading the constructors' standings.
Montoya's hopes were dashed at Indianapolis and the team's chances came to nothing at Suzuka after Montoya retired when leading the race, and Ralf Schumacher finished outside the points. However, it's not all doom and gloom for Williams; technical director Patrick Head is confident the team has made progress.
"We've made a lot of progress this season, we've by the skin of our teeth finished second in the constructors' championship," he said. "We were second last year, and this year it's a strong second whereas last year it was a sort of weak second. So we've definitely made progress, although obviously at the moment it's disappointing."
"We certainly had the capability of winning both championships this year -- three races ago Juan was one point behind Michael and we were eight points in the lead of the constructors' championship. The last three races have been rather disappointing, but we're a strong team and we've got strength in depth, and we'll be working very hard next year."
Head congratulated Schumacher and Ferrari but is determined to beat them next season: "He (Schumacher) is a fantastic driver, there's no doubt about that," he commented. "Ferrari are a great team and they've come out in the front this year, but it's our job to beat them."
BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen agreed it was a disappointing way to end the season, but is generally satisifed with what was BMW's best year so far. "With hindsight, we can still say that it is clear that this year we made a big jump forward," he said. "With four victories, including two one-two finishes, this was our strongest season so far. We managed to keep the Constructors' title undecided until the last race."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article No more second places for Raikkonen
Next article Theissen looks to a promising future
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Michael Schumacher
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brazilian GP
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
Nike could return to Formula 1 for first time since Michael Schumacher era
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Nike could return to Formula 1 for first time since Michael Schumacher era
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
More from
Ferrari
F1 Brazilian GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
F1 Brazilian GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Lewis Hamilton insists Ferrari tensions with Charles Leclerc are over: "We've squashed it"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
2 h
Lewis Hamilton insists Ferrari tensions with Charles Leclerc are over: "We've squashed it"
Latest news
Liam Lawson rues Brazilian GP qualifying mistake despite third-place grid start
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
Liam Lawson rues Brazilian GP qualifying mistake despite third-place grid start
George Russell's Brazilian GP qualifying fury explained: "Pole was there for the taking"
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
George Russell's Brazilian GP qualifying fury explained: "Pole was there for the taking"
F1 Brazilian GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
F1 Brazilian GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Lewis Hamilton insists Ferrari tensions with Charles Leclerc are over: "We've squashed it"
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
2 h
Lewis Hamilton insists Ferrari tensions with Charles Leclerc are over: "We've squashed it"
Feature
Discover prime content
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Formula 1
By Pat Symonds
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe