Williams not expecting early victory

Far from being optimistic at the start of a new season, Williams is predicting a lack of competitiveness before it's even set wheel on the race track. In winter testing the new FW25 appeared to be on the pace but recently team principal Frank Williams admitted the aerodynamics are lacking. Ralf Schumacher, who was reportedly dismayed by the car's winter performance, has already written off the chances of a victory early on.

"We've worked like mad and everyone knows we have a huge amount to do," he told the British press. "At the moment, the new car is as quick as the old one, perhaps a tad faster, but that's not good enough. We might as well forget any thoughts of winning the first couple of races."

Williams technical director Patrick Head was not quite so quick to dismiss the team's chances but thinks there is still much work to be done: "I am of the view that our car isn't performing well enough," he said.

"It's not going as well as we want it to and we recognize a few handling problems which we don't want to be there. We can measure a few aerodynamic characteristics that we think are driving these problems. I think we've got some work to do but I'm very confident that the car is a good step forward for us."

Schumacher Junior, meanwhile, is sobered by his brother and Ferrari's winter performance: "Michael gets in the car, drives 80 laps just like that and does not have the slightest problem," he remarked. "Ferrari is driving in a world of its own again. I do not feel depressed, rather sobered -- you have plans and then you realise they have not materialised yet. But this is also a motivation."

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