Spanish Grand Prix - RACE
Weather: Dry, sunny. Average temperature 22° C.
Another valuable fourth position for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team was achieved by
the skilled Ralf Schumacher who made a brilliant start to this Spanish Grand
Prix from his 5th position on the grid, immediately gaining two places. Jenson
Button could not finish his race, as he suffered an engine failure when he was
in sixth position having started in 11th, with only three laps to go.
Ralf Schumacher
Chassis: FW22 06
Best Time: 1:25.326 on lap 25 (7th)
Position: 4th
"I had a very good start and until the second pit-stop could control both
Coulthard and Barrichello. After this I tried to brake later than Coulthard in
the first corner but it didn't work and I dropped to third position. I would
prefer to watch the video of Barrichello overtaking me before saying anything
about this manoeuvre. I am happy with my fourth place as it means three more
points for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team in the Constructors' Championship."
Jenson Button
Chassis: FW22 05
Best Time: 1:24.729 on lap 20 (4th)
Position: DNF
"The final result doesn't really matter to me even if I was just two and a half
laps from the end, because this was a very good race. In a future race I might
grab the point I lost today. More important to me was having the speed on this
track. I found this circuit very difficult in qualifying but in the race I was
quick, at last. I really enjoyed my start and I hope it's going to be the same
in the next races but the best moment was jumping the Jordan in the pit stop. "
Frank Williams
"Another fine performance, better than we expected maybe. Disappointing for
Jenson. But another encouraging day for us."
Patrick Head (Technical Director WilliamsF1)
"One can see things in two different ways, with Ralf thinking that he might
have been able to hold on to a slightly higher position and obviously a
disappointment for Jenson. But at this stage of the year with a new engine, to
finish fairly close up behind two McLarens and one Ferrari is not too bad
really but obviously we want to do better in the future."
Gerhard Berger (BMW Motorsport Director)
"This was again an outstanding performance of the whole team. We have
strengthened a little bit more our third position in the Constructors'
Championship even if it could have gone a little bit better. It's a pity that
Ralf lost a position from Coulthard so narrowly. The manoeuvre with his brother
was interesting for the public, no doubt, but not that much for us. Jenson
ran a great race and retired due to a major engine failure. It hurts, of
course, to lose a point when there are still three laps to go but I am
convinced that he will have more occasions to collect points. After all, we
cannot complain, for sure!"