MAY 6, 2003

BMW confirms that it will stay in F1

BMW has finally confirmed that it will stay in Formula 1 in 2005 and beyond and is also understood to have rejected the idea of building its own car but negotiations to extend the current deal with Williams are still going on with Sir Frank Williams and Dr. Mario Theissen spending many hours locked in meetings at the Spanish Grand Prix.

"We will continue beyond 2004 in F1," Theissen said. "This has been agreed already by the board. What we are now 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."

Williams is well aware of the weaknesses of its current package but the team continues to work to improve the car and strengthen its engineering staff.