Williams Vow to Work Harder Next Year

Williams-BMW technical director Patrick Head said his team were disappointed to lose both Championships this year, but has vowed they will do all they can to fight back next season.

Head was disappointed to see Williams' hopes of lifting the Constructors' Championship disappear when Juan Pablo Montoya retired from the lead of the Japanese Grand Prix, while his teammate Ralf Schumacher was already at the wrong end of the grid.

Montoya's drivers' title chances ended in the previous race in the United States and Head promised to improve further in 2004 and give double World Champions Ferrari an even harder time.

"We've made a lot of progress this season, we've by the skin of our teeth finished second in the Constructors' Championship," Head said. "We were second last year, and this year it's a strong second whereas last year it was a sort of weak second. So we've definitely made progress, although obviously at the moment it's disappointing.

"We certainly had the capability of winning both Championships this year - three races ago Juan was one point behind Michael and we were eight points in the lead of the Constructors' Championship. The last three races have been rather disappointing, but we're a strong team and we've got strength in depth, and we'll be working very hard next year."

Rubens Barrichello's victory for Ferrari in Japan was enough to secure both Championships with Michael Schumacher finishing eighth to claim the point he needed for a record-breaking sixth drivers' title.

Head hailed Schumacher's achievement but warned Williams will be back stronger next year.

"He (Schumacher) is a fantastic driver you know - there's no doubt about that," Head said. "And Ferrari are a great team and they've come out in the front this year, but it's our job to beat them."