Williams wants BMW for ever

Sir Frank Williams would like the partnership with engine supplier BMW to run for ever and ideally for the manufacturer to buy shares in the team. BMW has expressed an interest in getting more involved with the technical side and Williams is open to input regarding areas such as aerodynamics.

The current deal between the team and manufacturer closes at the end of 2004 and Williams hopes to extend it further: "Most of all, I would prefer to make an unlimited contract with BMW, which would run for ever and ever," he said. "It would be ideal for us if BMW wanted to buy shares from us. For this would give WilliamsF1 greater security and make it easier for us to make plans."

"BMW wants to be involved in certain processes and technical developments and we're going to put this into practice by and by. We always need an engine and there fore we also need a partner to provide us with that engine. In addition, we also require some helpful technical input from them as far as drive or aerodynamics is concerned, but only in certain areas."

The distance between separate chassis and engine design partnerships are starting to close, with Toyota entering the championship this season and Benetton being taken over by Renault. Recently Peter Sauber said he was looking for a big manufacturer to join forces with and Ferrari have shown what can be achieved by having engine and chassis design working together.

BAR is possibly heading in the same direction, with engine supplier Honda parting company with Jordan to concentrate solely on BAR next season.

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