Cautious Williams Look to End 20-Year Monaco Drought

BMW-Williams technical director Patrick Head said today that he was delighted with Ralf Schumacher's pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix but he remains cautious ahead of the team's hoodoo race.

Schumacher secured only the second pole position of his career and the team's first of the season with a measured one-lap qualifying performance but Head is not counting his chickens just yet as Williams bid to end a 20-year wait for victory in the event.

"It is pleasing obviously but it is the end race result that is most important and what we are working towards," said Head, who also watched as second driver Juan Pablo Montoya qualified third on the grid. "We know that the car is improving but we know that we are not getting the results that we need.

"The team has been working fantastically hard and been getting their heads down and focussing on their jobs. We think we have a pretty healthy level of fuel on board and will be going a pretty long distance. I don't think they (Ferrari and McLaren) are much different from us when it comes to fuel quantity.

"Ralf did excellent and has put his weekend together pretty well. Neither driver has made any mistakes or touched any barriers so both drivers are going well."

The Williams team have not won at Monaco since Keke Rosberg was victorious in 1983 and are seeking to end a 20-year search for victory. Nigel Mansell had been destined to win the Monte Carlo race in 1992 race when he led for 70 laps only to collect a puncture, and Ayrton Senna held off his attentions in the closing stages to take the chequered flag.