BMW Encouraged by Williams Performance

BMW have admitted Williams' impressive performance in the Monaco Grand Prix has gone some way to improving their opinion of the team but suggested they must continue to improve to convince them to stay in the long-term.

The relationship between the two companies has been rumoured to be strained in recent years and Williams were dealt a blow when BMW confirmed they are set to supply a second team with engines after closing in on a deal with Sauber.

BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen has insisted recently that the current partnership will remain intact if a secondary supply deal is done for next year and he admitted the double podium finish in Monaco was a helpful result.

"It is certainly positive, yes, but we have been with Williams now for more than five years and you shouldn't take a strategic decision on a one-day event," said Theissen when asked if the result affected BMW's view on the relationship.

"On the other hand it is absolutely clear that a result like today gives the whole team a big push and it is down to a lot of hard work over the past month by all the people in BMW and Williams."

Williams have struggled this season with Nick Heidfeld's third place in Malaysia their only appearance on the podium over the course of the first five races before heading to Monaco.

Nick Heidfeld finished second after passing Mark Webber in the second set of pit stops and although Webber was full of praise for the team after the race he admitted he was hugely disappointed with his personal result.

Despite claiming his first ever Formula One podium with third, Webber appeared angered at the team's decision not to call him in first for the second stop even though the he had a track position advantage.

But Theissen insisted there was no bad feelings from Webber and said: "For him it is a big result. So far he has had fifth places several times but no more than that, now he is on the podium, so no reason to complain is there?"

There certainly will be no reason to complain if the team continues in the form they hit at Monaco but it is clear they were at an advantage because of better tyre wear than their rivals and that gain could be lost at the next race.

Monaco is a traditionally unique circuit, with its tight and twisty nature often favouring cars that would not normally be so strong, but Theissen is hoping the success was not a one off.

They won in Monaco in 2003 and went on to return to form and he said: "I would not say it was a one-off two years ago, it was the start of a big recovery, and I certainly hope that it will be a similar situation this year."