UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Williams to blame for lack of performance

FW28, not Cosworth, the problem

Jul.4 (GMM) Sam Michael has steered away from blaming Cosworth for what is arguably Williams' worst crisis in its long formula one history.

At Indianapolis, Nico Rosberg was overtaken by a Red Bull and a Toro Rosso and finished dead last, as the Grove-based team emerge from North America now eighth in the constructors' championship.

Ruing Rosberg's result in the US GP, technical director Michael told Eurosport: ''You can't get much lower than that.''

Williams can't blame new tyre supplier Bridgestone, as the Japanese company equipped the dominant Ferraris at Indy; so perhaps it is the switch from manufacturer BMW's works support to that of independent outfit Cosworth.

''For sure not having a manufacturer partner hurts you,'' the Australian admitted, ''but there is no way we should be out of the points.

''You can't blame that on not having a manufacturer. That would be a pretty lame excuse.''

Michael admitted that aerodynamics, solely the responsibility of the outfit in England, is an area to concentrate on. He said the FW28 is 'weak' in terms of 'efficiency'.

Ahead of this week's test at Jerez, he added: ''But we need to look at the whole lot.''

Michael said Magny Cours is likely to be another tough race for Williams. ''We're not strong on many tracks at the moment,'' he confessed, ''but you've got to fix it and move on.''

Written: Tue, 04 Jul 2006 10:19:19