Dr Theissen plays down WilliamsF1 chances

But so far he has yet to turn this strong qualifying performances into race results. He has been let down by engine failures, mistakes on his part such as when he spun during the running of the European Grand Prix, and poor tyre performance in the races in comparison to those of Michelin's rival Bridgestone.

Also Juan Pablo has had to deal with a driver car combination in that of the Ferrari F2002 and Michael Schumacher who would seem to be at their peak this season.

So come the running of the French Grand Prix one should keep all these factors in mind when looking at a possible race victory. Even BMW Motorsport Director  Mario Theissen is cautious in his appraisal of the teams chances of success.

In respect of their chances Dr Theissen said: “I can well imagine that Ferrari has no real reason to get worried. For the race set-up they will be stronger than everybody else – thus stronger than us”.

BMW and WilliamsF1 have been working hard to reduce the performance gap between qualifying and the race and this issue for the team was highlighted by Dr Theissen when he added: “All we need to achieve is to fill the gap between the qualifying and the race performance”.

One area in which the team has been trying to develop some consistency is in the performance of their Michelin tyres. In the first half of the season saw the BMW WilliamsF1 team only achieve one race victory and that was in Malaysia, another circuit where hot conditions prevail and as such suit the Michelin tyres.

Magny-Cours is also another circuit where hot conditions can be a factor. In qualifying seven out of the top ten drivers are on Michelin tyres. Dr Theissen agrees with this view: “It is still the rule that our tyres have an advantage when it is hot.”

Even with Dr Theissen's restraint in saying that the WilliamsF1 team can achieve a race victory, Juan Pablo is a bit more optimistic. He said: "“The chances are much better than usually. We are obviously surprised that we picked up the pole position because we really didn't expect that. The fact that we are at the very front is naturally a good start for tomorrow." For Juan Pablo he has had race victories achieved from pole so the French Grand Prix, despite the failures of late, should not be the exception.

Not to be forgotten is the second BMW WilliamsF1 driver Ralf Schumacher. Despite the fact that he is to start the race from fifth position he is not that far off the times set by Montoya and his brother Michael.  Dr Theissen commented on Ralf by saying: “Ralf has always performed well during the race. I hope he will do so too tomorrow”.