BMW plays down Berger's Williams attack

BMW has played down quotes from its motorsport director Gerhard Berger during an interview on Austrian television when he apparently suggested that it will not win a world championship as long as it stays with the Williams team

The German manufacturer has said that the quotes have been taken out of context and have been translated "somewhat stronger" than they might have been.

Berger - whose contract with BMW runs out on September 30 - is quoted by the Central European News agency as saying during the interview: "The promises that were made by Williams were not kept and high expectations could not be fulfilled. BMW has been building the best engines for several seasons now, but is always slowed down by Williams cars. This means we may win one or two races, where our super engine will help, but the world championship will remain a dream."

Earlier this week, Berger's fellow BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen gave an upbeat message about its F1 future.

"We will be in Formula 1 after 2004," he said. "This decision has now been made by the executive directors. We are now talking about how we will go on and no longer whether we are going on at all. The aim remains the same - we want to win the championship's title"

Berger, however, is quoted as saying on the subject: "Whether we will still be partners [with Williams] is not clear yet. BMW will remain in F1 racing but not in the same way."

A BMW.WilliamsF1 Team spokesman has told AUTOSPORT that there will be no official response concerning the comments.