San Marino GP: Williams Saturday qualifying notes

For the first time this season the BMW WilliamsF1 Team made it onto the front row with Ralf Schumacher qualifying second for the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola. Next to him his brother Michael will start from pole position. Juan Pablo Montoya qualified fourth fastest and will share the second row with Rubens Barrichello in the second Ferrari.

Ralf Schumacher:

"After the first sector, where I was not very fast, I thought my qualifying lap was compromised, but then surprisingly I made it. I must say thanks to the t-car team as they did a very good job getting my car ready which I had to use after the mistake I made this morning. We have been very strong so far here and I hope the weekend continues like this."

Juan Pablo Montoya:

"My qualifying lap was compromised by some understeer which also caused me to go slightly off track at the Acque Minerali, where I definitely lost the time I needed to achieve a better position. The second row is still a very good place to start the race from, even if tomorrow my grid position will be on the dirtier side of the track."

Sam Michael (Chief Operations Engineer, WilliamsF1):

"It is a shame to have just missed the pole position. However, we are pleased with the positions we have achieved in the final qualifying. The car has improved a lot and credit should be given to the aero department and the factory for making this possible. It was a good job from Ralf. After the accident that he had this morning he had to take the spare car, which did not have all the latest parts. It was also a good effort by Juan, and we are really looking forward to tomorrow's race now."

Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director):

"We have been very close to Ferrari in the qualifying. Our team looks to be very strong on the Scuderia's home ground. Two years ago we were celebrating here in Imola the first victory of our partnership, and the circuit seems to suit our new car as well. It was an exciting qualifying session. In the end the World Champion took pole position from us by just a fraction. The FW25 has improved considerably. We are in a good position for the race and hope to show our performance over a race distance as well."

Ralf Schumacher: 2nd
Chassis: Spare Car FW25 02
Best time: 1.22,341 min

Juan Pablo Montoya: 4th
Chassis: FW25 04
Best time: 1.22,789 min

-williams-