Williams need a big step forward

Williams need to take a big step forward over the winter and take more risks to beat Ferrari according to Ralf Schumacher. Frustrated by the lack of improvements in 2002, Schumacher believes the team needs to work on aerodynamics and reliability.

Williams need to take a big step forward over the winter and take more risks to beat Ferrari according to Ralf Schumacher. Frustrated by the lack of improvements in 2002, Schumacher believes the team needs to work on aerodynamics and reliability. The German took Williams' only win of the season in Malaysia but thinks there should have been more victories.

Ralf Schumacher.

Photo by BMW PressClub.

"Imola we should have won easily. We couldn't so that was pretty clear," Schumacher told Reuters. "What was frustrating was that we couldn't improve. It's one thing if you are not good enough and another if you can't improve. That's the only frustrating thing -- that basically after mid-season we stayed on the same speed and didn't move anywhere. We improved slightly but only on mechanical stuff."

"And that's the problem we are having now and facing over the winter, that basically we start from zero and have to risk everything we can to make a proper car. I am sure we will take more risks for next year to have something that will bring us a huge step forward, that's what we need. We have to improve mainly in aerodynamics and we have to improve in reliability. We dropped off too many times this year. If we want to beat a team like Ferrari we can't afford this."

Schumacher is skeptical about the proposed changes in Formula One aimed at bringing back some of the excitement to the sport: "I think none of them (the changes) will come but we will wait and see," he commented. "There are so many teams against it, so I think they (the FIA) will try to reduce costs more, that's what will come in for next year. Maybe less testing."