But even with this BMW has announced that they are to stay in Formula One beyond the end of this contract. BMW Motorsport Director Dr Mario Theissen made it clear that a decision in regard to BMW's continued presence in F1 has been made by the BMW board.

Dr Theissen was quoted as saying: "We will continue beyond 2004 in Formula One. This has been agreed already by the board. So (what) we are talking about is not if, but how, to continue. The ultimate goal is to be competitive, to get into a position to win the Championship."

For the WilliamsF1 team the continuing the partnership with BMW is something that the team would prefer but even after months of negotiations no announcement has been made..

As for the option of setting up their own team reports in the media indicated that this option had been rejected, so BMW really has one two options that of continuing with WilliamsF1 or changing to another team.


Dr Theissen added: "We are now talking about how we will go on and no longer whether we are going on at all. The prior aim remains the same. We want to win the championship's title."

For the WilliamsF1 team the start of the 2003 season sees the team fourth in the constructors championship. The team is well aware of the need to turn the season around and start winning races.

WilliamsF1 Technical Director Patrick Head added: "Formula 1 is a very hard business and we know very well that only success is what counts in the end. If you are not successful it gets frustrating, but there is by far no reason to throw in the towel."