Williams issues rallying call

Following its terrible fortunes in the Canadian and United States grands prix, BMW Motorsport director Mario Theissen has called the situation "a character test for the whole team" and is backing Williams to bounce back in next week's French Grand Prix.

"Sometimes things happen which shouldn't happen," said Theissen. "You have to get over it and you have to learn from it, and you especially have to take care not to become de-motivated. I think these are the moments in which a team can show whether it is really strong, and I certainly expect us to overcome this situation."

The team's technical director Sam Michael is upbeat about the return to European soil, and says the fight back will start in France.

"Two disappointing results in a row is not good," he said. "However, we are fighters and intend to come back strongly. When you are down everyone kicks you and it is a matter of getting back up and fighting back. That is what we are about."