Theissen: Williams Not a Top Team Yet

Williams are winners but they have yet to reclaim their status as a top Formula One team, according to BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen.

"Every problem can be solved but only a top team is able to solve all the problems," he said after BMW-powered Williams failed to score at Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix. "Today was a clear indication about what we've said all season. We are not a top team yet.

"We have days when we are top...but a top team is prepared to deliver every day at every track and there is quite a long way to go for us."

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya took pole for Williams on Saturday, ahead of teammate Ralf Schumacher in second place on the grid. It was their second sweep of the front row this season and Ralf has won three races - his victory at Imola the first for Williams since they ended a dominant phase in 1997.

The team won nine Constructors' titles between 1980 and 1997. But at some tracks the team, using Michelin tyres in the French manufacturers' first season back in Formula One for 18 years, have struggled.

Raised Hopes

Montoya stalled at the start of a formation lap on Sunday and went to the back of the grid. Ralf's hopes evaporated after his team tried to fix his car on the grid and ran out of time. The German was left with his car still raised on blocks while others began the formation lap and he eventually finished seventh.

During the race, the Williams suffered a strange lack of power and Montoya's engine blew.

"Throughout the whole race the car was just too slow," said Theissen after listing all the problems. "And if you add this up you end up with zero points and that's what we deserved. The car certainly was slower than expected on the straight and we have to talk about the set-up."

Williams are challenging for second place in the Championship, although McLaren strengthened their position on Sunday with David Coulthard finishing second and Mika Hakkinen fourth. The next and last European race is Monza, the high-speed circuit outside Milan, and Theissen said Williams should be able to come back strongly there.

"Generally I am very confident. Of course we have to do a lot of work now to make sure that this doesn't happen again," he said. "You can only win if everything is right. To me it's better if at one location nothing is right than to have four races with at one the tyres not optimum, one the engine, one the car and one the drivers.

"So I hope this was everything we have to take this season."