Schumacher Still the Favourite, Says Theissen

BMW motorsport boss Mario Theissen believes World Champion Michael Schumacher is the real favourite for the 2003 title after he completed an impressive comeback for Ferrari at the British Grand Prix.

Schumacher dropped down to 15th when his Ferrari team were forced to bring both of their cars into the pits during a safety car period when a man ran onto the track on lap 12 and Theissen was amazed by the German driver's strong comeback.

"I think in the Drivers' Championship everything went for Michael today," said Theissen. "He ended up only one place behind Kimi and he has extended his lead against our drivers so in my view he is the favourite for the season.

"Certainly Ferrari was the strongest car throughout the weekend and although Juan Pablo had a very good performance today I don't think that without the strange situations he could have overtaken Rubens."

There are now just five races left for Williams-BMW drivers Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, who finished second at Silverstone, and German Ralf Schumacher, who was ninth, to claw back their respective 14 and 16-points deficits.

Although Theissen believes that could be a difficult task he insisted that the constructors' title is still there for the taking. "I expect the decision only in the final race," he said. "And I hope we will be there."

The Silverstone race was turned into a lottery when a man ran onto the track on lap 12 and forced the safety car out, which in turn drew most of the cars into the pits for an early pitstop.

But Theissen insisted things were calm in the Williams garage and added: "Of course, we adapt the tactics not to the mad man but to the safety car, but we expected the safety car. The data engineer always has data available and immediately can make the decision to stop early to make use of the safety car phase or to stay out.

"In the first safety car we decided to stay out, for the second we had to come in."