Malaysian GP Williams race notes

A disappointing race put an end to quite a difficult weekend for the Winfield WilliamsF1 team. After starting from 16th position and struggling at the back of the field, Alex Zanardi finished in 10th place. Ralf Schumacher's race didn't last longer than seven laps, when the driver went off the track and his car stopped in the gravel.

Ralf Schumacher

Final Position: DNF Best Time: 1:46.418 Chassis: FW21 06

"The car hasn't been at its best for the whole weekend, I must say, as it was very difficult to drive. Also today I struggled with some problems both in this morning's warm-up and in the race. I was quite anxious and became even more so when I could not prevent Alesi from passing me easily. So I pushed hard to prevent Villeneuve coming through but the car oversteered, I lost the back end and spun into the gravel."

Alex Zanardi

Final Position: 10th Best Time: 1:42.056 T-Car Chassis: FW21 05

"I made a very good start, then Frentzen suddenly moved towards me to avoid a car and I had to lift off the throttle, losing my momentum. I went on and overtook a few cars and managed to keep out of an accident at the first turn but then somebody ran into my car from behind and I wasn't able to go straight anymore. I went back to the pit thinking I had a puncture, but actually it was a rim that had been damaged. I drove an honourable race, even if the car was strongly oversteering. Then, with about 10 laps to go, I had an excursion off the track and some grass filled the radiators, which caused cooling problems. So I had to pit again to clear them. All I can say now is, we'll see next time, knowing that it will be the last chance of this season."

Patrick Head, Technical Director

"It has been a pretty disappointing day for us. With regards to the Constructor's championship, obviously we are not in a very good position although we still have one more race to try to redeem the situation. We really didn't get the car working very well although Ralf was on a one-stop race strategy and from the lap times and the way he was going, it certainly would have been a fifth or sixth order position. However, the "ifs and buts" of motor racing are a long story. All we know is that we are some way from the front and we have a lot of work to do."

Before the Japanese Grand Prix the Winfield WilliamsF1 team will be testing in Estoril on the 22nd and 23rd of October, with Bruno Junqueira.