Williams Cautious about Championship Chances

Team chief Frank Williams said on Tuesday that he is cautiously optimistic about the new Formula One season that opens in Melbourne on March 3.

Williams, backed up by his team's technical director Patrick Head, also said that he felt that drivers Juan Pablo Montoya of Columbia and German Ralf Schumacher had reached a mutual agreement to work together for the good of the BMW powered outfit.

"I think we need to take a look at the first two or three races before we can draw any conclusions," said Williams on the chances of Championship success this year. "I am sure that McLaren and Ferrari will both be very competitive again and Sauber also look to be in good shape at this time of the year."

Both of the Williams team directors made it clear that they regard defending World Champion Michael Schumacher as the benchmark against which they will measure their own team and drivers performances.

"It is quite fantastic to see the dedication, enthusiasm and sheer commitment that Michael still has," said Williams, a long time admirer of Ferrari's four-time World Champion who will be seeking a fifth driver's crown this year.

Asked by reporters over lunch at the team's Grove headquarters on Tuesday about the apparent tension between Montoya and Ralf Schumacher, Williams swept it aside.

"They may never be great friends because they are very different kinds of people, but they have both realised that they need each other if the team is to be successful."

Head revealed that senior engineer Sam Michaels had phoned him recently to report in amazement that he had seen the two drivers talking together, joking and enjoying each other's company.

"I think they both realise that they have to share their knowledge and that their main competitor is always going to be another team," said Head.

Both men picked McLaren-Mercedes, a team which has designed an adventurous car for this year's Championship, as likely strong rivals to Ferrari.

But Head also pointed out that Sauber have been highly impressive in pre-season testing and both men agreed that Jenson Button, in whom they have a vested interest, is showing signs of maturity and improvement in pre-season testing with Renault.

"Everyone here has the greatest admiration for Jenson," said Williams. "But it is much too early to try and guess what will be happening next year."