BMW Motorsport - Formula One 2005 Season Review.

2005 season in review. / 2 Interview with BMW Motorsport Director Mario
Theissen. / 4 Australian GP. / 7 Malaysian GP. / 7 Bahrain GP. / 7
San Marino GP. / 8 Spanish GP. / 8 Monaco GP. / 9 European GP. / 9
Canadian GP. / 10 USA GP. / 10 French GP. / 11 British GP. / 11
German GP. / 11 Hungarian GP. / 12 Turkish GP. / 12 Italian GP.
/ 13 Belgian GP. / 13 Brazilian GP. / 14 Japanese GP. / 14
Chinese GP. / 15 Results and statistics. / 17 Finale and new
beginning. Munich. They were meant to get back on track for success,
but the BMW WilliamsF1 Team were left trailing behind the leaders. The
German-British partnership suffered its second difficult season in
succession in 2005 and dropped back to fifth place in the Constructors'
standings. Their sixth season together - and the longest ever in
Formula One history with 19 Grands Prix - also signalled the end of the
partnership between BMW and WilliamsF1. BMW has taken over Swiss-based
Sauber and will be fielding its own team for the 2006 season.
"Over these six years, both sides have learnt a lot and benefited a
great deal from one another", summarised BMW's Motorsport
Director, Mario Theissen. "Both partners are stronger today than
at the start of our joint venture. For four years we exceeded our
targets and in 2003 we were in the running for the World Championship
title right up to the final race. But instead of making the crucial
step forward, in 2004 and 2005 we lost touch with the leaders."
Ten wins, including three one-two victories, a total of 45 podium places
and 17 pole positions were accrued in 104 joint races since the year
2000. In the season just ended, the BMW WilliamsF1 Team failed to take
a Grand Prix win for the first time since 2000 and ended the season
with 66 points, placing them fifth in the final rankings. Despite
ongoing improvements and comprehensive modifications halfway through
the season, the Williams BMW FW27 proved uncompetitive.