For DR Theissen the new rules are set to be a challenge for the WilliamsF1 team, but it is a challenge which he feels that the team and its drivers will be able to cope with.

After a 2002 season which saw the BMW WilliamsF1 team, in particular their driver Juan Pablo Montoya, achieve a high degree of success when it came to qualifying. Juan Pablo took five poles in a row.

With the new rules the teams drivers will have to work that much harder to make sure that they are at the front of the grid.

Dr Theissen spoke of the rule changes by saying: "The existing measures are okay for us. We welcome, especially, the modified qualifying. It will boost the excitement even more. There is no doubt that in 2003 – when the conditions change in the qualifying – the Sunday race will also be more exciting when then the top drivers, will be further back in the field than expected."

As for who of the teams drivers will be best able to deal with the changed format Dr Theissen felt that Ralf and Juan Pablo both had their own way of dealing with setting up their cars for qualifying.

Dr Theissen added: "At the beginning of the qualifying Ralf was usually quicker to adjust his car. Most of the times, Juan Pablo fluffed at the beginning. For him it is important to adjust his car faster, as he did in this year in the rest of the qualifying. If he succeeds in doing this, his name will again attract positive attention.”