Comments from BMW WilliamsF1 Team Members
By Andrew Hooper
May 11 2002
| Austrian GP Qualifying - Team Comments |
| After a breath taking qualifying session, the BMW WilliamsF1 Team drivers Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya will start from the first and second row of the grid for tomorrow’s Austrian Grand Prix. |
Juan Pablo Montoya "After
all the trouble I had today, this is a pretty good result. Because of
technical problems with my race car I had to switch to the T-Car, which
did not work properly at the beginning. It was set-up for Ralf this time
and there was not enough time to change everything back, so I found it
difficult to drive it. I could have been quicker on my second run, but I
had to be careful not to make any mistakes. Finally I am really happy
having achieved a place on the second row during my last run."
|
Ralf
Schumacher "I
am definitely pleased with my result and also a bit surprised as we were
expecting to be closer to Ferrari but probably not to qualify between
them. I had two very similar laps. The car was very good throughout the
morning and this afternoon’s qualifying session and I must thank the team
for the good job as well as Michelin. My only concern for tomorrow is that
I will be starting from the dirty side of the track but we all have launch
control, which will definitely help."
|
Dr Mario Theissen BMW Motorsports Director "It
was a hectic qualifying session both on the track with several offs and
imperfections and also in the garage. Juan Pablo got a misfire in the
first lap and he had to switch to the T-car. After a few starting problems
the T-car ran all right. There were no technical problems on Ralf’s car.
He was very quick and we are happy we have put a car on the front row,
after all the Ferrari dominance. We will analyse the reason for the
misfire on Juan’s car later in the day."
|
Sam Michael
Chief Operations EngineerWilliamsF1 "Well
done to Ralf and his crew for getting the best out of the car and putting
it on the front row. He is well placed for the race. It was a fantastic
effort from Juan after he had problems with the race car, having to change
to the T-Car and experiencing problems there as well. He worked quickly,
thinking with a clear head how to go faster during the session. He was
helped a lot by the mechanics who handled a high pressure situation calmly
and efficiently."
|
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"After
all the trouble I had today, this is a pretty good result. Because of
technical problems with my race car I had to switch to the T-Car, which
did not work properly at the beginning. It was set-up for Ralf this time
and there was not enough time to change everything back, so I found it
difficult to drive it. I could have been quicker on my second run, but I
had to be careful not to make any mistakes. Finally I am really happy
having achieved a place on the second row during my last run."
"I
am definitely pleased with my result and also a bit surprised as we were
expecting to be closer to Ferrari but probably not to qualify between
them. I had two very similar laps. The car was very good throughout the
morning and this afternoon’s qualifying session and I must thank the team
for the good job as well as Michelin. My only concern for tomorrow is that
I will be starting from the dirty side of the track but we all have launch
control, which will definitely help."
"It
was a hectic qualifying session both on the track with several offs and
imperfections and also in the garage. Juan Pablo got a misfire in the
first lap and he had to switch to the T-car. After a few starting problems
the T-car ran all right. There were no technical problems on Ralf’s car.
He was very quick and we are happy we have put a car on the front row,
after all the Ferrari dominance. We will analyse the reason for the
misfire on Juan’s car later in the day."
"Well
done to Ralf and his crew for getting the best out of the car and putting
it on the front row. He is well placed for the race. It was a fantastic
effort from Juan after he had problems with the race car, having to change
to the T-Car and experiencing problems there as well. He worked quickly,
thinking with a clear head how to go faster during the session. He was
helped a lot by the mechanics who handled a high pressure situation calmly
and efficiently."
