Williams FW26 guns for glory

At the launch of the team's new challenger in Valencia, team chiefs Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head targeted title success as their sole aim for 2004.

"I have got a great feeling of anticipation about this new car," said Williams. "Every year we are serious about winning when we come to the races. Our aspirations are higher than ever this year. We'll be disappointed if we're not first in the championship."

Technical director Head believes that the extra time afforded by the car's early launch will give it more time to develop the FW26 into a winning machine.

"Looking back at 2003 we realised we hadn't left enough preparation and development time before the season," said Head. "This car is a fairly logical progression within the rules, although one or two things look different. Having a longer time before the first race will allow us to understand better how to get the best out of the car.

"The ambition for Williams is to win the title. It has been the longest period in our history without winning a championship, and our aim is to win both [the drivers' and manufacturers']."