Formula 1
San Marino GP: Williams preview
After the lottery conditions encountered in Brazil, the BMW WilliamsF1 Team is eager to find a more consistent platform to demonstrate its true performance potential, which to date this season has been tempered by a variety of different factors. The ...
Published: Apr 11, 2003, 11:33 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
After the lottery conditions encountered in Brazil, the BMW WilliamsF1 Team is eager to find a more consistent platform to demonstrate its true performance potential, which to date this season has been tempered by a variety of different factors. The start to the European season provides a perfect opportunity to re-establish the team's competitiveness, and the approach for the forthcoming San Marino Grand Prix is distinctly confident and bullish.
Juan Pablo Montoya:
"I am glad be back to racing in Europe, and especially at Imola. Although I have never managed to make it onto the podium there, it is a race that the whole team looks forward to."
"The most noticeable change we will have to respond to will be the temperatures in San Marino which will be colder than the first three races. But this should not be a problem as we are confident about this as the Michelin tyres have considerably improved for cold conditions. I think the FW25 should work ok at Imola and we might be able to make up for the mixture of bad luck, difficult circumstances and mistakes that have not got us off to the best start this season."
Ralf Schumacher:
"My disappointment about the outcome of the Brazilian Grand Prix was short-lived. I am now focused on what is ahead, because the job at Imola will be difficult. I remember last year that we did not have the smallest chance against Ferrari. This time circumstances are different and the most recent test at Le Castellet has taken us another step forward. Improvements in testing are important, as the aim is now not only to beat Ferrari, but also prevent McLaren from opening up a lead."
"All this said, Imola may not suit our car perfectly but it is always nice coming back to the location of my maiden F1 win. Perhaps this positive feeling might support me on the way to a good result."
Sam Michael (Chief Operations Engineer, WilliamsF1):
"After a wet race in Brazil, we have been testing in the wet at the Paul Ricard circuit in France with Marc and Ralf. We have also been working on chassis setup and aero developments."
"San Marino can also be quite cold and wet. It is a circuit that rewards downforce, engine power and a mechanical setup that is good for the curbs without compromising high speed stability. The Imola circuit has medium to high speed corners, a couple of chicanes and requires a lot of braking. Aside from the demands it places on the car, it also presents a big challenge for the drivers."
"Traditionally Imola is a multi-stop strategy due to the relatively short pitlane, but whether the new rules will lend themselves to this remains to be seen. We are confident that we are strong in our pitstop times based on the team's performance so far this year."
"We have been conducting a lot of tyre testing to improve our position relative to the competition, using the pre-season Imola test as a baseline. It will be interesting to see how far we have progressed."
Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director):
"After three turbulent long distance Grands Prix, we hope for a more straightforward beginning to the European season. Hopefully in Imola we will race under more representative conditions which would allow a genuine comparison of everybody's competitiveness."
"We have several good reasons for looking forward to Imola. For the first time this season we will not have to work out of containers as we will have our trucks and motorhomes in the paddock. This makes logistics easier and improves our working conditions. Furthermore, the landmark BMW's first victory after its return to F1, achieved by Ralf Schumacher in Imola in 2001, is unforgettable."
"Imola is a challenging circuit, not only for the brakes but also for the engines. Due to high downforce settings and uphill sections, a powerful engine is important. In Italy we will be running the latest version of the BMW P83 that we ran in the Friday qualifying sessions in Australia and Malaysia and entered in the race in Brazil for the first time."
-williams-
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 Webber happy to walk away from crash
Next article BAR Paul Ricard test summary 2003-04-9/11
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Juan Pablo Montoya
Team Penske and Chevrolet announce multi-year extension of IndyCar partnership
IndyCar
IndyCar
Team Penske and Chevrolet announce multi-year extension of IndyCar partnership
Juan Pablo Montoya admires Franco Colapinto's "aggressive" approach despite Baku crash
Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Juan Pablo Montoya admires Franco Colapinto's "aggressive" approach despite Baku crash
Williams tipped for "huge step" forward at Azerbaijan GP with major upgrade
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Williams tipped for "huge step" forward at Azerbaijan GP with major upgrade
More from
Ferrari
Robert Kubica announces exit from AF Corse’s privateer Hypercar in WEC
WEC
WEC
Monza
3 h
Robert Kubica announces exit from AF Corse’s privateer Hypercar in WEC
Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
3 h
Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP
Latest news
Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
1 h
Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale
Official race results: NASCAR Cup Homestead season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
1 h
Official race results: NASCAR Cup Homestead season finale
Ryan Blaney wins Homestead NASCAR Cup finale as Kyle Larson claims 2026 title
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
1 h
Ryan Blaney wins Homestead NASCAR Cup finale as Kyle Larson claims 2026 title
Winners and losers from F1's chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
2 h
Winners and losers from F1's chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix
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