BMW: expectations will be hard to meet

The German manufacturer, racing under its own name after taking over the Sauber team, enjoyed a strong season in 2006 and finished in fifth position in the constructors' championship with 36 points.

They were 50 points behind fourth-placed Honda, however.

"The problem is when you perform, the expectation rises immediately. Obviously we have to do better next year and that won't be easy," Theissen told autosport.com.

"Obviously the four teams in front of us, it looks good to be fifth,  but we only have 36 points and number four has almost 100, three beyond 100 and the top two beyond 200.

"And the teams behind us between 35 and zero, so it is quite difficult to take the next step. But that is our target over the winter - to take the next step. I look at the performance of the car, more than the points situation.

"Last year the gap between Sauber and the benchmark was 0.3 per kilometer. And this year we monitored it on a race-by-race basis and we looked at the best team on the same tyres, which was usually Renault this year and we started the season at 0.2 sec per kilometer and ended at 0.15 per kilometer,  so that was exactly on target and now we have to reduce that over the winter even more."

Theissen, however, is optimistic about the team's prospects for the 2007 season, although he admits they won't know their real form until their new car hits the track.

"I think we are on track," he added. "We have turned the wind tunnel operation into a three-shift operation a few weeks ago, and seeing all the material builds there is much more going on than one year ago.

"The numbers are  okay, they are making progress, especially on the engine side, so I am confident. But you only know when the new car is on the track."