MARCH 5, 2003

Berger's decision indicates BMW decision is made

Gerhard Berger said that he would stay on at BMW if there was a new challenge and so his decision to retire would seem to suggest that the Austrian knows that the Munich care company is not going to start its own F1 team. There are have been indications in recent days - including some comments from Sir Frank Williams - that BMW and Williams are moving towards anagreement to take the relationship beyond the end of 2004. Williams indicated that he thinks a contract will be agreed within a matter of weeks and therefore Berger's planned departure adds to the belief that the decision in Munich has already been made.

The big question now is who will be brought in to replace Berger as BMW clearly feels that it needs someone with public profile rather than a BMW manager.