Head expects Williams step

Head believes that the intense heat the teams are expected to face in Malaysia will help Michelin optimise the performance of its tyres. He has also been in F1 long enough to know that things can change quickly. Indeed Ferrari dominated Melbourne in 2002 only for Williams to score a 1-2 finish at Malaysia two weeks later.

"I'd be very disappointed if we didn't do a lot better in Malaysia than we did in Australia from a competitive point of view," he said. "Clearly if we allow a situation to perpetuate where Ferrari are finishing first and second, even if we finish third and fourth, Ferrari will start opening up a big gap in the constructors' championship.

"We can't afford for that to happen so we need to get our act together pretty quickly and start scoring points."

The new WilliamsF1 FW26, along with all the Michelin runners, could not match the pace of the Bridgestone-shod Ferraris in the Australian Grand Prix. But Head has acknowledged that Michelin cannot be held entirely responsible for Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya's cars inability to match the Ferraris on sheer pace.

"The team's performance in Melbourne wasn't good enough in that we finished fourth and fifth and we were beaten by one other Michelin car, Fernando Alonso in the Renault, and two Ferraris," said Head. "I think the tyre situation, and the fact that the Michelins grained quite a lot in Australia, played a part but I don't think that was the whole reason for finishing behind Ferrari.

"We have stated quite clearly that our targets for the year are both championships, so we are obviously off track at the moment for those targets and it is going to be interesting to see how we get on in Malaysia where I hope it will be dry and a lot hotter. Meanwhile we are obviously developing the car as fast as we are able.

Head is not just concerned about the pace of the Ferraris however. He was impressed with fellow Michelin runners Renault and BAR. Indeed Fernando Alonso beat both Williams drivers to the flag in Melbourne, while Jenson Button's BAR had the speed to qualify on the second row.

"I think Renault were outstanding - their car last year was very good and they seemed to have carried that through," said Head. "But the main thing that stands out is the engine in the Renault which they are perfectly straightforward about saying isn't yet fully competitive from a power point of view.

"To produce a new engine under the new durability rules and have both cars finish in the points at the first race as well as be the leading Michelin car is to be admired. B.A.R. have clearly made significant improvements, ultimately they did finish sixth, but have moved on a long way from last year."