[JPMontoya]

Head: it's not over yet

Patrick Head, BMW-Williams Technical Director, admitted his team needs to make a significant step forward in development to challenge Ferrari, but believes it will be closer to the Italian marque in upcoming races.

Ferrari and Michael Schumacher stormed to win number four in the fifth round of the series yesterday giving the German driver a 21-point lead over BMW-Williams charge Juan-Pablo Montoya, who finished yesterday’s race second.

Ferrari had always been the favourite going into Spain with its all-round package of car, engine, and Bridgestone tyres, which were peerless throughout the weekend on Barcelona’s abrasive surface.

But Head does not believe Ferrari will enjoy such an advantage at every race particularly in the tyre stakes.

‘We will be a lot closer at the next race in Austria, but we are going to have to improve a lot very quickly in order to get back into a competitive position,’ Head told the British Broadcasting Corporation’s Online sport service.

‘We expected to be some way behind in Spain so we are not too surprised.’

But the veteran Head said inconsistency was not acceptable when battling with a team like Ferrari.

‘There is obviously a deficiency in the complete package and we have to make sure we improve it because we don't want to be quick at some tracks and slow at others,’ he warned.

Officials from Williams’ engine partner BMW were meanwhile not feeling as optimistic as Head about the races ahead or indeed the Championship. Gerhard Berger, Programme Chief, said there was no possibility of preventing Schumacher from winning the drivers’ crown.

‘Forget the drivers' championship; there's just no chance,’ said the former ten-time Grand Prix winner.

‘I think we have an outside chance in the constructors' championship, but not a real chance.

‘The gap to Ferrari in Spain alarmed us.’

dailyf1

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