Revised FW24 planned for mid-season

After having to come to terms with the performance advantage that the Ferrari F2002 has over their FW24 the BMW WilliamsF1 team is looking at introducing a 'B' version of the car mid-season. For Juan-Pablo Montoya this is something he is looking forward to after the difficulties of matching the F2002 in the last few races.

Even though the WilliamsF1 team is the major competition to the Ferrari team, they are still finding that there is a lot of work to do to put them on an equal level with their Italian rivals. For the team this was none more apparent that at the Austrian Grand Prix where, on a circuit that the difference between the FW24 and the F2002 should have been reduced, the WilliamsF1 drivers struggled.

With Ferrari leading the constructors' Championship by 16 points over WilliamsF1 and with Michael Schumacher twenty seven points clear of Montoya, something has to be done to improve the FW24. It is for this reason that the WilliamsF1 team are working on several upgrades for the FW24, including improvements in aerodynamics and weight.

Montoya commented: "At the moment with what we've got it will be very difficult to win. Michael is a very tough contender, but it really depends on the car; that's the way it works."

"In Formula One it is not like you have a car you can start with and win right away. As new parts are put in the car, it evolves. The (revised) car will be a lot closer to Ferrari. The car that will be coming will be the key."